Background: As the global population ages, the demand for family caregivers is expected to increase, underscoring the necessity to comprehend their support needs and challenges they face. However, caregiving often comes with various challenges and support needs that require attention. This study was aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the support needs and challenges faced by family caregivers who provide care to their elderly loved ones at home.
Methods: The study was conducted in Mekelle City, Ethiopia from December 2022 to October 2023 using a phenomenology study design and purposive sampling technique. A total of twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted using an open-ended guide. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, entered into ATLAS.ti8 software, translated, and analyzed using a thematic analysis.
Results: The study found that family caregivers face communication, financial, medication management, and transportation challenges in caring for elderly relatives at home. It also highlighted several key support needs of family caregivers in the care of elderly relatives at home. These includes financial assistance, training, access to information, and support from healthcare professionals.
Limitations: Qualitative research, by its nature, is subjective as it relies on the perceptions and interpretations of the participants. Moreover, in qualitative studies, researchers typically work with a limited number of participants, in qualitative studies, researchers typically work with a limited number of participants, resulting in conclusions that may not reflect the experiences of all family caregivers.
Conclusion: This qualitative study underscored the multitude of challenges faced by family caregivers in their role as primary caregivers for elderly relatives. The research also highlighted the pressing need for support systems that would address the physical, emotional, financial, and informational needs of these caregivers.



中文翻译：

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了解家庭护理人员在家照顾老年人时面临的支持需求和挑战。定性研究

背景：随着全球人口老龄化，对家庭护理人员的需求预计会增加，这凸显了了解他们的支持需求和面临的挑战的必要性。然而，护理常常伴随着各种需要关注的挑战和支持需求。本研究旨在深入了解在家中为年长亲人提供护理的家庭护理人员所面临的支持需求和挑战。
方法：该研究于 2022 年 12 月至 2023 年 10 月在埃塞俄比亚默克莱市进行，采用现象学研究设计和有目的抽样技术。使用开放式指南总共进行了二十二次深度访谈。采访内容被逐字转录，输入 ATLAS.ti8 软件，进行翻译，并使用主题分析进行分析。
结果：研究发现，家庭护理人员在家中照顾年长亲属时面临沟通、财务、药物管理和交通方面的挑战。它还强调了家庭护理人员在照顾家中老年亲属时的几个关键支持需求。其中包括财务援助、培训、信息获取以及医疗保健专业人员的支持。
局限性：定性研究本质上是主观的，因为它依赖于参与者的看法和解释。此外，在定性研究中，研究人员通常与有限数量的参与者一起工作，在定性研究中，研究人员通常与有限数量的参与者一起工作，得出的结论可能无法反映所有家庭护理人员的经历。
结论：这项定性研究强调了家庭照顾者作为老年亲属的主要照顾者所面临的诸多挑战。该研究还强调了迫切需要支持系统来满足这些护理人员的身体、情感、财务和信息需求。