Jannetti Publications

Population aging and issues surrounding family caregiver costs are worldwide trends and concerns. In this study, family caregivers lost productivity cost due to elderly care over time was examined and factors affecting lost productivity were analyzed. Based on these findings, the welfare system as related to the elderly should be re-evaluated, and concrete and realistic countermeasures developed.

In this qualitative phenomenological study using a purposive sample, six caregivers of patients on hemodialysis were interviewed about their experiences of caring for a family member who uses hemodialysis. Six major themes and 12 subthemes were identified. Perceptions of caregivers are that caregiving is hard work and stressful; however, caregivers found the experience to be meaningful, even though the stress may interfere with their own health status. Study limitations include a small sample that may not represent the entirety of caregivers' perspectives.