Challenges Faced by Family Caregivers: Multiple Perspectives on Eldercare.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Family eldercare is a critical component of supporting aging populations.
• Caregivers and community stakeholders face multifaceted challenges in providing eldercare.
• Understanding these challenges is essential for developing effective support systems and policies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the challenges encountered in family eldercare provision.
• To explore these challenges from the dual perspectives of family caregivers and community stakeholders.
• To inform policy development and practice improvements for eldercare.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing thematic analysis.
• Data collected from 306 family caregivers and 116 community stakeholders in North Dakota.
• Multiple data sources included surveys from AARP-ND, ND Family Caregiver Support Program, and a Statewide Caregiving Stakeholder Survey.

Main Results:

• Five major themes emerged: financial burden, insufficient respite care access, service navigation difficulties, lack of caregiver knowledge/training, and environmental context challenges.
• Caregivers reported significant financial strain and difficulties in finding and utilizing available support services.
• Stakeholders identified systemic issues in service accessibility and the need for enhanced caregiver training.

Conclusions:

• Family eldercare provision is hindered by financial, logistical, and educational barriers.
• There is a critical need for improved access to respite care and streamlined navigation of support services.
• Policy interventions should focus on alleviating financial burdens, enhancing service accessibility, and providing comprehensive caregiver training.