The Role of Family Caregivers in the Safety of Older Adults with Chronic Diseases in Home Health Care: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Introduction: Older patients with chronic diseases with special and complex care needs are the most recipients of home health care services. Several factors affect the safety of these patients at home. The family caregivers as one of the members involved in home care play an important role in this regard. The present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the role of family caregivers in the safety of older adults with chronic diseases in home care.Methods: The present study was a qualitative study with a conventional content analysis approach that was conducted in three home health care agencies in Tehran, Iran in ۲۰۲۲. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ۱۲ nurses, ۲ assistant nurses, ۱ physician and ۳ family caregivers at home. Data analysis was carried out using Granheim & Lundman's five-step conventional content analysis method.Results: The results showed that the family caregivers can be play a facilitating and inhibiting role in home care. If the families had appropriate participation and communication with other members involved in the care, especially the nurses, they could guarantee the safety of the patient in home care. However, family caregivers may cause a disturbance in the patient's safety in home care by insisting on problematic measures (implementation of traditional medicine or compassionate and excessive care), ineffective communication with other members involved in care, and lack of provision of care facilities (medicine, equipment and services) and hiring a nurse or a nursing assistant.Conclusion: Family caregivers as one of the main members involved in the care of older adults with chronic diseases play a dual role (opportunity or threat). Identifying the facilitators and inhibitors facing family caregivers can help nurses and the health care system to plan and implement programs to improve the safety level of the older adults.

Keywords:

Home Care , Family Caregiver , Older Adults , Chronic Diseases.