Premium
Experiences of being a family member to an older person with diabetes receiving home care services
Author(s) -
Bendixen Bente E.,
Kirkevold Marit,
Graue Marit,
Haltbakk Johannes
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12511
Subject(s) - qualitative research , nursing , medicine , diabetes mellitus , diabetes management , family medicine , health care , gerontology , psychology , type 2 diabetes , social science , sociology , economic growth , economics , endocrinology
Aim To describe family members' experiences of attending to an old person with diabetes receiving home care services, including their interaction with the formal caregivers. Methods and Results The study has a qualitative descriptive design. From May to August 2015, eight family members were interviewed. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. To describe family members' experiences, the following four themes were identified: Security through patients' self‐management skills and diabetes knowledge; Perceived burden due to the old persons' deteriorated health; Security through competent home care services; and Doubt due to personnel's inadequate approach and interaction. Conclusion It is important for personnel in home care services to consider patients' self‐management skills and the family members' diabetes knowledge as key aspects in order to limit experiences of burden when the older person with diabetes has deteriorating health. The findings underscore that interaction with home care personnel skilled in managing diabetes helps family members feel secure.