Authors (including presenting author) :
Yim KYE(1), Ho KWC(1), Chiu KMA(1), Wang PL(2)
Affiliation :
(1) Health Resource Centre, Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals (RTSKH), (2) St James’ Settlement Wan Chai District Elderly Community Centre
Introduction :
Caregivers are exhausted and stressful in taking care of their family members with chronic illness. In order to provide continuous care to their family members, caregivers should have rooms for self-pampering. In this connection, “Giving Caregiver a Break” project was organized in 2018/19 to strengthen support to the caregivers in physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects. A series of activities are organized for caregivers, patients, and volunteers with the support from doctor, lawyer, physiotherapist, clinical psychologist, dietitian, social worker, aroma therapist and related professionals. To bridge them for having more community resources, we have collaboration with St James’ Settlement Wan Chai District Elderly Community Centre (SJS) in this project.
Objectives :
1. Enrich caregivers and patients’ skills and knowledge on self-care management and plan for their life and death issues. 2. Strengthen caregivers’ competence and confidence on providing safe and effective care to the patient. 3. Empower family members to moderate their caregiver stress, improve their health, well-being and quality of life. 4. Link up caregivers and patients to community resources throughout caregiving process 5. Enhance caregivers’ better communication with health care professionals, the care recipient and their families.
Methodology :
Satisfaction survey was designed to measure participants’ overall satisfactory rate. Subjects were caregivers, patients and volunteers. Outcome measures are categorized as parameters for self care management and satisfaction survey.
Result & Outcome :
The project was commenced in August 2018 and successfully completed in March 2019. 4 educational talks related to end of life care topic, 6 sessions of self-care management groups including laugh yoga, dietetic life, relaxation exercise, etc, 4 workshops about aromatherapy and lifting skill and a Life Book Production were organized for 412 caregivers, patients and volunteers in total. Nearly 80% of them completed the satisfaction survey and over 98% of them satisfied with this program. To conclude, “Giving Caregiver a Break” project could be beneficial in: 1. Enriching caregivers and patients’ skills and knowledge on self-care management and plan for their life and death issues. 2. Strengthening caregivers’ competence and confidence on providing safe and effective care to the patient. 3. Empowering family members to moderate their caregiver stress, improve their health, well-being and quality of life. 4. Linking up caregivers and patients to community resources throughout caregiving process 5. Enhancing caregivers’ better communication with health care professionals, the care recipient and their families.
