What is it about?
When a someone is affected by mental or physical illness, usually one of the family members becomes the main caregiver. That person who cares for the sick at home faces severe stress that may developed into health problems. Unfortunately, the health care services and the community tend to overlook the family caregiver. This article examines this serious gap in health care provision. The article discusses data from 47 families caring for a member diagnosed with schizophrenia.
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Why is it important?
The findings show that caring for a close family member affected by mental illness is both distressing and physically demanding. Considering that the burden faced by the family caregiver is typically overlooked, this study highlights the relevance of the family caregiver and the importance of providing them with material, social and emotional support.
Perspectives
There is a knowledge gap in health research: the focus is typically the ill person. We need to pay close attention also to the spill-over effect of illness on the patient's significant others and family unit. This article addresses that gap.
Stella Quah
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Caring for persons with schizophrenia at home: examining the link between family caregivers' role distress and quality of life, Sociology of Health & Illness, November 2013, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12091.
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