Changes in and factors related to fatigue of in-home caregivers who utilize temporary nursing home assistance

Abstract

In order to understand the fatigue of in-home caregivers of the elderly and the remedical effects of temporary nursing home assistance (i.e., "respite care service"), pre- and post-service surveys were conducted on the Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index (CFSI) of 34 in-home caregivers who use the respite care service offered by a nursing home in Shizuoka, Japan. The results of these two surveys are as follows: 1) The physical fatigue of caregivers before using the respite service is higher, and caregiver's free time is related to their feelings of fatigue. 2) According to CFSI figures, chronic fatigue, general fatigue, anxiety, depression (p < 0.01), and irritability caused by excessive workload and reduced vitality (p < 0.05) were significantly reduced by the services given. 3) Twenty-seven caregivers, or 79% of the sample, showed some improvement, while the remaining 7 caregivers (21%) showed none. 4) Factors which may have affected the degree of fatigue recovery were shown, including reasons and days for using the respite service.