Emotional Management Problems of Caregivers for Dependent Elderly People: Integrative Review (original) (raw)

2018, The Bangkok Medical Journal

Emotional Management Problems of Caregivers for Dependent Elderly People: Integrative Review T hailand is a country that enjoys a stable fertility rate. Moreover, advanced technology in medicine has led to improved human longevity. The number of elderly people in Thailand has continued to rise therefore, from 7.2 million in 2010 and is estimated to reach 11 million by 2020. 2,3 The growth rate of the older population in Thailand is predicted to be high, at a rate of increase of more than 3% each year. With the increasing rate of the number of elderly people in Thailand of around 3-3.6% per year, the total number of elderly people will double within the next 17 to 23 years. Thailand is going to be an elderly society within the next 10 years. Overall, only 15% of persons aged 60 and above admitted that they needed some assistance with their daily living activities. 2,3 Therefore, informal caregivers currently take on important roles to care for the elderly. In the giving of care, caregivers reported problems in physical, psychological or emotional and financial overload, affecting the quality of care for elderly people. 4 The issue of the burden experienced by caregivers is not new and most of caregivers need to manage their emotions for an effective outcome of caring. 5,6 Most caregivers are relatives who care for elderly parents or someone who cares for elderly people. 7 As a result, caregivers are prepared themselves for caring, which means they were aware of the physical, psychological and environmental factors that they were facing. The management of the emotions of caregivers is a major issue that health staff should be concerned with. If caregivers could manage their emotions effectively, this would be an important step to help develop a more positive outcome in caring. The risk indicators specified here, such as limited resources, giving care to a close loved one, and giving emotional support, could help to prevent informal caregivers from a heightened risk of emotional disorders. Therefore, the study of emotional management of caregivers working with the elderly is important. Whittemore and Knafl's 2005 1 technical procedure was developed for