It’s long been recognized that caregivers are critical to the well-being of many individuals with disabilities. Recently published research suggests that what we’ve known anecdotally all along is now confirmed, as well: self-care is critical to the well-being of caregivers themselves.
The study looked at the emotional support and physical help available to a select group of caregivers for stroke patients, as well as their general health. Half of the participants had access to online support and coaching, and the other half had none. After checking with participants at intervals of three, six, and twelve months after the initial stroke event, the researchers found that those caregivers who had had access to the online caregiver support reported better health than those who had not.
As noted in their research findings, the study authors felt that it was important to ensure that all caregivers have sufficient and ongoing self-care support to enable them to remain healthy and positive in their caregiver roles. They further noted “the need for nurses to assess caregiver health later in the caring process,” and the importance of being aware of “its relationship to emotional support.”
For further information: “Emotional Support, Physical Help, and Health of Caregivers of Stroke Survivors,” Victoria Steiner, Linda Pierce, Sean Drahuschak, Erin Nofziger, Debra Buchman, Tracy Szirony, Journal or Neuroscience Nursing, vol 40, no 1, February 2008.
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