Family caregivers often struggle with medical and nursing tasks, a new study from the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing has found. The investigation also revealed that home healthcare nurses and aides can play an increasingly helpful role here.
For the report, lead author Jo-Ana Chase, PhD, APRN-BC, and colleagues interviewed family caregivers about the medical and nursing tasks they perform for loved ones after a hospital-to-home transition.
“After a patient is discharged from the hospital, a home healthcare nurse will often come to the patient’s home periodically to check in,” Chase said. “This is an excellent opportunity for clinicians to work with caregivers to address any questions, challenges or concerns.”
Full findings appear in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.
