Perceptions and concerns among the caregivers of the rural elderly in Bohol

• Main Author: Montes, Ria Eva T.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Subjects: Aged > Care > Philippines; Caregivers; Volunteers; Perception; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1914; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8752&context=etd_masteral
• Institution: De La Salle University

The provision of adequate care to meet the needs of the elderly is a growing concern to family members and the community as a whole. With the gradual disintegration of the family as unit and with the increasing need of caregivers to work outside the home, community support for the care of the elderly is now an imperative. The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions and concerns of the caregivers of the rural elderly in Bohol in order to assess its implications for a family caregiver's program for the aged.Purposive sampling was utilized in selecting the sixty caregivers of the rural elderly from four different barangays in the town of Dauis, Bohol. Interview guide was used in gathering pertinent data. Simple descriptive statistics were employed using the frequency, percentage and mean.Results of the study showed that most of the caregivers were married female who are taking care of the oldest old (81-90). Being sick was not significantly cited by caregivers as one of the reasons for caregiving. As perceived, caregiving was necessary because the elderly can no longer perform activities of daily living.Money was the most pressing need of the caregivers. Majority still find leisure activities for themselves despite other tasks performed aside from caregiving. Their multiple roles were never conflicting since they cope by giving priority to caregiving when necessary.Caregiving was provided through physical care and none of them felt that personal services they provided were emotional or recreational services. Results of the study showed that caregiving was basically a function of the family since there were no community resources available in the community. Family resources in caregiving are still evident and the financial support is shared by members of the family especially the brothers and sisters of caregivers.Caregivers did not openly recognize problems in caregiving. To them, providing care to the elderly was an obligation, a duty that has to be complied with without complaint. While admitting that it was highly feasible to set up a family-based caregivers' program, they did not find it necessary to avail of community services for the elderly because caregivers do not expect help at all from the community because to them caregiving is primarily a family affair.The caregivers were not also aware that the elderly should be afforded proper care because as perceived by them, the elderly only need company, assistance and care which they can readily provide.The foregoing findings imply the need to raise the level of awareness of caregivers for appropriate care and services for the elderly. As found out in the study, the caregivers have limited perceptions on the different aspects of caregiving.