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Educational preparation and training of the family caregivers of elderly patients with stroke in the pre-discharge period: A proposed innovation

Introduction: Stroke causes disability that affects the life of patients, their relatives and the society in general. Global healthcare policies, suggest the sooner possible discharge of stroke patients from hospitals, but the transition to home is a stressful experience for family caregivers who are suddenly faced with the responsibility of homecare provision. Sufficient international evidence suggest that a pre-discharge educational program for preparing family caregivers could lead to better care, less complications and better quality of life, but Cyprus still do not provide such a program. Objectives: To challenge the current healthcare practices regarding the care of elderly patients with stroke and to propose an innovative training program that will be provided by the nurses during the pre-discharge period to family caregivers. Methodology: The proposed innovation is discussed around an overview of the international literature regarding the family caregivers' education in the improvement reforms that are being pursued with the new national health system of Cyprus. Additionally, it is suggested that the Ministry of Health should create discharge services of elderly stroke patients in each hospital with the creation of a Discharge Coordinator role, who could coordinate the proposed innovation, while he/she could also inform staff on how to provide the training program to family caregivers.discharge planning and the Lewin's change theory, since the development and implementation of the innovation as a whole is based on this theory. Results: International literature highlights that family caregivers have a diversity of responsibilities at home but also unmet training needs. If these needs are not met, they may cause burden to caregivers, thus impeding their capacity to provide safe homecare to patients. Considering the significance of post-discharge homecare to the elderly patients with stroke, a proposed training program was designed for family caregivers, in an effort to motivate nurses in Cyprus to provide this preparation. Conclusions and recommendations: An attempt should be made as for the proposed innovation to be included in the future planning of the care of stroke patients as part of the  improvement reforms that are being pursued with the new national health system of Cyprus. Additionally, it is suggested that the Ministry of Health should create discharge services of elderly stroke patients in each hospital with the creation of a Discharge Coordinator role, who could coordinate the proposed innovation, while he/she could also inform staff on how to provide the training program to family caregivers. 

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Key Information

Type of Reference
Jour
Type of Work
Journal article
Publisher
Cyprus Nurses & Midwives Association
ISBN/ISSN
14500795
Publication Year
2018
Issue Number
1
Journal Titles
Cyprus Nursing Chronicles
Volume Number
18
Start Page
17
End Page
31