Effectiveness of Use of Home Health Care Providers to Decrease Burden and Depression of Elderly Family Caregivers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the use of home health care provider's on the levels of burden and depression of family caregivers who were caring for an ill relative in their home. A comparative descriptive research design was selected for this study. Subjects were categorized into two equal groups of 50 elderly caregivers each. The experimental group used the services of home health care providers while the control group did not use these services. Two instruments were used for data collection; The Zarit Burden Interview questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory. Multiple analysis of variances confirmed that caregivers who used the services of home health care providers were significantly less burdened and or less depressed than their counterparts who did not use these services. Patients most of them with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease that may increase levels of burden and depression. The study recommended that the Ministry of Health and Population, as well as non- governmental organizations have to pay more attention to the old age sector and encourage home health care services in Egypt.