Financial burden of stroke on family and caregiver in India: a literature review

Abstract

As life expectancy increases, India will face enormous socioeconomic burden to meet the costs of integrated rehabilitation of subjects with stroke. Caring for stroke patients leads to caregiver (CG) strain and financial burden. The CG burden is perceived differently in the Indian background depending on the society and culture. Caregiving stress has the potential to hamper rehabilitation of the patients and is of vital importance both as a research topic and the focus of clinical care. Cost and burden of informal care giving are high rural Indian community. Financial stress was prominent and common among the socioeconomically weaker division. The financial costs associated with family caregiving were a significant factor in caregiving burden, both for the male and female caregivers. Despite the high financial burden, limited recent studies have focused on costs associated with stroke in the India. Establishing total stroke-related costs is essential to evaluate and support the health economic research on stroke systems of care. Stroke care giving studies may help to better understand care giving impact, and also to find the most effective interventions to improve the quality of life of stroke patients and their caregivers, reduce the burden and depression of caregivers. Policies and programs to alleviate the financial burden and to provide social and financial support for these family caregivers are equally important for both family caregivers and their care receivers.