Caregiver strain and satisfaction in those caring for chronically ill veterans are influenced by specific activities, coping mechanisms, and depression, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Depression and support factors may influence caregiver strain; hypothesis-generating for targeted interventions, with prospective studies needed before practice change.
Veterans' health care has shifted towards outpatient treatment, and because of the high prevalence of chronic illness in veterans, more caregiving has been required of their families. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of caregiver (CG) strain and satisfaction associated with caring for veterans with chronic illness. Data were collected using telephone interviews of 120 dyads. Strain was associated with helping with instrumental activities of daily living, using counseling and prayer for coping, accompanying veteran to appointments, help/advice from friends, paid help, exercising, and depression. Satisfaction was associated with veteran health, CG social support, age, and depression. Innovative and easily accessible interventions are needed to mitigate sources of strain in CGs of chronically ill veterans.
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Wakefield et al. (2011) studied this question.
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