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An Investigation Of Strain And Support Needs Of Caregivers Of Older Adults With Delirium And Allied Health Promotion Interventions, Jasmine Vickers

All ETDs from UAB

Delirium, or the sudden onset of confusion, is common, highly distressing, debilitating, and deadly among hospitalized older adults and is associated with adverse outcomes for their family caregivers. As people are living longer with more complex conditions, more people will face the task of caregiving for older adults with delirium. Family caregivers can make meaningful contributions to delirium care, but high distress, insufficient knowledge, and lack of skills often seen in caregivers can lead to maladaptation and negative health outcomes. A few studies have focused on distress in caregivers from witnessing delirium episodes; however more research is needed to understand …

A Qualitative Analysis Of End-Of-Life Healthcare In Tennessee: Politics, Principles, And Perceptions, Erin Mauck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The unprecedented growth of the aging population in Tennessee is a significant demographic trend that highlights the necessity for healthcare policy that tackles end-of-life issues. This study examined the perceived quality of end-of-life healthcare in Tennessee, areas that are in need of improvement, policies that have the potential to influence improvements, and the role of politics in end-of-life healthcare policy. It also assessed the support for end-of-life healthcare policy that would advance quality of care and expand end-of-life choices for Tennesseans, while evaluating the policy-making process that legislators employ.

For this study, data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with …

Caregivers’ Influence On Patients’ Heart Failure Self-Care, Hospital Readmission And Mortality, Linda Clements

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospitalization, readmissions, and death in the United States. Patients hospitalized for HF are at risk for readmission, in- hospital mortality, and early post-discharge death. In the United States, inpatient care has been estimated to cost $83,980 over the lifetime of each patient with HF. The majority of patients with HF depend on caregiver support for successful HF self-care, which is essential for optimal patient outcomes. Support from caregivers is thought to be important for better self-care, and lower readmission and mortality rates. Yet, there are few studies considering the influence of …

The Impact Of Acculturation Among Hmong Caregivers, Mai La Vue

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research study explores the impact of acculturation among Hmong caregivers within the Twin Cities region, who the Hmong caregivers are today, and what caregiving in the Hmong community looks like today. A sample of four respondents were recruited in the Twin Cities region who are Hmong and are providing care for an older adult in the home. Two surveys were used to analyze the demographics and acculturation of the Hmong Caregivers. A qualitative survey explored how acculturation has impacted the respondents in terms of caregiving. The outcomes of the study indicated that majority of the caregivers were women who …

Caregiver Support Within The Dementia Context: Best Practices In Responding To Ambiguous Loss, Michel Rousseau

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to use the concept of ambiguous loss as a lens to explore common challenges that family caregivers experience when caring for a loved one with dementia. This study attempted to collect qualitative data from licensed social workers who have experience working with family members and their diagnosed loved ones. Key findings made in this study include the different forms in which ambiguous loss may cause distress on behalf of caregivers: A physical presence yet psychological absence (an example of boundary ambiguity) on behalf of the diagnosed individual, the loss of future potential on behalf …

Influences Of Disclosure Among Child Sexual Abuse Victims, Michelle Jones

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Child forensic interviews are essential in eliciting disclosures in child abuse cases. Due to the nature of abuse and the child victims, barriers are inevitable to obtaining a full disclosure. This research describes the barriers as well as the factors that increase the likelihood of eliciting a disclosure during child forensic interviews. Previous research has found that factors more likely to induce a disclosure are having a supportive primary caregiver, an investigation which was instigated by the child victim, and if the victim is an older female. Barriers preventing disclosure include threats made by the perpetrator, fear, lack of opportunity …