Caregiver Tasks and Life Changes Among Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

Purpose Stroke family caregivers often struggle to provide care. The purpose of the current study was to determine: (a) ease or difficulty with caregiving tasks; (b) life changes because of providing care; and (c) relationship between caregiving tasks and life changes. Method A descriptive correlational design was used. Telephone interviews were conducted with 74 stroke caregivers. Tasks were measured using the Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale; life changes with the Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale. Results The most difficult tasks were managing survivor behaviors and the most negative life changes were lack of time for social activities. The easiest tasks were medical or nursing treatments, whereas the most positive life change was an improved relationship with the survivor. Tasks and life changes were different for each caregiver. Caregiver tasks and life changes were moderately correlated ( r = 0.33, p < 0.01). Conclusion Caregiver tasks and life changes are important for designing strategies to support stroke caregivers. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 51 (3), 13–18.]