A research report presented to the school of Human and Community Development Faculty of Humanities University of Witwatersrand in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Arts in Social Work November 2016. / Globally, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is number six in the top ten disease burdens. This epidemic was viewed as an obstacle to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Number 1 which deals with poverty eradication. The HIV/AIDS epidemic undermines economic development and exacerbates poverty (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2012). The Republic of South Africa has adopted the implementation of the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) and Support Programme, as a strategy to address this epidemic. This qualitative research study sought to explore the psychosocial circumstances of community caregivers working in Tshwane Region. Individual interviews were conducted with 14 community care workers using a semi-structured interview schedule. The participants were sampled by using purposive sampling and they represented three different communities, namely urban, rural and from informal settlements. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse data collected. Six themes summarised the findings of the research. Both negative and positive effects of the psychosocial circumstances that affect work performance, home and personal lives of community caregivers working in Tshwane Region were discovered through the research. For most caregivers the circumstances are so dire that they have compromised their marriages, family relationships as well as their health conditions. However, a few caregivers are benefiting much better from the services. These are those that were trained and accredited as Child and Youth Care Workers. They earn a living wage and have learned better skills to deal with work situations. However, poor communication and withholding information from staff have led to other caregivers being disillusioned and jealous of those that have progressed, as they feel unfairly treated and discriminated against either due to their age or level of education. Low stipends contribute to more dissatisfaction, as the caregivers cannot afford their living expenses while they are also vulnerable to the same conditions as their beneficiaries. This goes together with lack of support and supervision and being left to fend for themselves in service rendering and acquiring resources. The available care for the carer’s programme seems ineffective and least appreciated. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the knowledge base on the psychosocial circumstances of community caregivers in Tshwane and provide useful information to influence and improve the existing Framework for Home and Community Based Care and Support Programmes in Tshwane. / GR2017

Carmen Wing Han Chan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-107). / Questionnaire also in Chinese. / Chapter One： --- Introduction --- p.8 / Chinese Perspectives --- p.9 / Chapter Two: --- Literature Review --- p.12 / The Impact of Cancer on the Family --- p.12 / The Effect of Caregiver Stress on the Family --- p.15 / Caregiver Tasks --- p.22 / Chapter - --- Physical and Comforting Care --- p.24 / Chapter - --- Being available --- p.26 / Chapter - --- Uncertainty --- p.28 / Chapter - --- Finances --- p.31 / Chapter - --- Existential Concerns and Meaning of Cancer --- p.32 / Chapter - --- Supportive Services and Family Resources --- p.34 / Chapter - --- Altered Role and Lifestyle --- p.37 / Stress Symptoms --- p.39 / Chapter - --- Physical Symptoms --- p.40 / Chapter - --- Psychological Symptoms --- p.42 / Summary --- p.44 / Chapter Three： --- Methodology --- p.46 / Aim of the Study --- p.46 / Research Objectives --- p.46 / Design --- p.47 / Sample --- p.48 / Instruments --- p.49 / Chapter - --- Patient's Demographic Information --- p.50 / Chapter - --- Caregiver's Demographic Information --- p.50 / Chapter - --- Caregiver Tasks --- p.50 / Chapter - --- Stress Symptoms --- p.52 / Translation of Instruments --- p.53 / Data Collection Procedure --- p.54 / Ethical Consideration --- p.55 / Data Analysis --- p.56 / Chapter Four: --- Results --- p.58 / Caregivers' Characteristics --- p.58 / Patients' Characteristics --- p.59 / Caregiver Tasks --- p.60 / Stress Symptoms --- p.62 / Correlation among Stress Symptoms and Caregiver Tasks --- p.64 / Chapter - --- The Stress Symptoms Scale and its Sub-Scales --- p.64 / Chapter - --- The Caregiver Tasks Scale and its Sub-Scale --- p.64 / Chapter - --- Stress Symptoms and Caregiver Tasks --- p.65 / "Caregivers' Age, Education Level, Patients' Age, and Study Variables" --- p.66 / Chapter - --- "Caregivers' Age, Education Level and Caregiver Tasks" --- p.66 / Chapter - --- "Caregivers' Age, Education Level, and Stress Symptoms" --- p.66 / Chapter - --- "Patients' Age, Caregiver Tasks, and Stress Symptoms" --- p.67 / Other Caregivers' Demographic Variables and Study Variables --- p.67 / Other Patients' Demographic Variables and Study Variables --- p.68 / Chapter Five： --- Discussion --- p.70 / Introduction --- p.70 / Caregiver Tasks --- p.70 / Stress Symptoms --- p.76 / Relationship between Caregiver Tasks and Stress Symptoms --- p.79 / Caregivers' Demographic Characteristics and Study Variables --- p.81 / Patients' Demographic Characteristics and Study Variables --- p.86 / Limitations --- p.88 / Chapter - --- Cross-sectional Design --- p.88 / Chapter - --- Sample --- p.90 / Chapter - --- Instruments --- p.91 / Chapter - --- Translation --- p.91 / Recommendations for Future Research --- p.92 / Conclusion --- p.96 / REFERENCES --- p.98 / Appendix / Chapter I. --- Informed Consent Form --- p.108 / Chapter II. --- Characteristics of Patient --- p.109 / Chapter III. --- Narrative for Consent --- p.110 / Chapter IV. --- Caregiver's Profile --- p.111 / Chapter V. --- Caregiver Tasks --- p.112 / Chapter VI. --- Stress Symptoms --- p.115 / Chapter VII. --- Translated copies of Instrument --- p.117

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Grounded in the life course perspective, this study examined stress among long-distance caregivers, asking whether stress levels vary by family relation to the care recipient or by geographic distance. A growing older adult population forecasts a corresponding need for caregivers. Although family members are the primary source of care for older adults, our population has seen high rates of mobility among both adult parents and their children, increasing the geographic distance between them. Given that the number of children per family has decreased, geographically distant children may be the only available family members to help frail, aging parents. Older adults without children available may have to rely on other family members, some of whom also live at a distance, in times of need. Caregivers who live at greater distances may have more difficulties providing care to their loved ones than those who live closer, and they may face greater stress than caregivers who live nearby. Further, because the child-parent relationship reflects the strongest kin obligation, child caregivers may have a higher likelihood of caregiver stress than nonchild caregivers. Research questions were addressed using data from a nationally representative survey of long-distance caregivers conducted in the Fall of 1996 by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) in collaboration with Matthew Greenwald and Associates of Washington, DC. Child caregivers (n=98), those whose care recipients are parents or step parents, were compared to nonchild caregivers (n=74), those whose care recipients are caring for grandparents, siblings, other relatives, or friends. Caregivers in both groups provided comparable care, such as helping with decision making, advice and information, making needed arrangements, and providing emotional support. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess the amount of variance explained by relation type and geographic distance after controlling for caregiver income, caregiving intensity, gender, care duration, and care recipient health. Bivariate relations suggested that caregivers with higher income give significantly less intense care, and that the passage of time may lessen stress for caregivers. Results of the multivariate analysis showed that relation to care recipient was a significant predictor of caregiver stress, with adult children showing higher levels of stress. Caregiver stress, however, was not greater for caregivers who lived farther away from care receivers. Using nationally representative data, the study documented the stress of long-distance caregivers, particularly adult children, thus suggesting the need for additional research and possibly programs to alleviate that stress. / Graduation date: 2003

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-151). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

The deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the major developmental challenges facing our nation. Community caregivers (CCGs) play a significant role in addressing the psychosocial needs of orphan and vulnerable children (OVC); however, little attention has been paid to the work and experiences of CCGs. In an endeavour to increase our understanding of their lived experiences, this research qualitatively explored the concerns and motivations experienced by CCGs who work on a daily basis with children in circumstances of extreme adversity, specifically those affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This study draws on the ecological theory of Bronfrenbrenner (1979) to provide a conceptual framework in which to consider the working circumstances of CCGs. Methodologically, focus group discussions were used as the primary source of data collection. Focus groups were conducted with CCGs from three different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who provide psychosocial support to children affected by HIV/AIDS. The research found that CCGs are passionate about providing holistic care to the children, families and communities in which they work and they experience a variety of concerns about the way in which services are provided and how funding agendas drive the nature of the work and the manner of monitoring and evaluation. They also experience joy and satisfaction in what they do. Limitations and suggestions for future studies are noted, with the aim being for NGOs to acknowledge the concerns and motives and to develop and implement programmes to support staff, and maintain the resilience needed for CCGs to be even more effective in contributing towards providing meaningful services in the difficult circumstance in which they work. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

Stroke is a medical event that has serious consequences for the survivor, his family, and society. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and two-thirds of stroke survivors are permanently disabled with one-half of these survivors considered severely impaired. The economic burden from stroke is estimated to be $30 billion annually in health care costs and lost productivity.This study described the needs of 35 caregivers of stroke survivors within 24 hours of discharge to home from an acute care "safety net" teaching hospital in Indiana and how well those needs were met. Two subscales, (a) the Need for Information and (b) Patient Care Needs, of the Home Caregiver Need Survey were used. The theoretical framework for this study was the Neuman Systems Model.The stroke survivors were over 50 years old (77.1 %), half were African-American and half were Caucasian, and about a quarter were minimally impaired (25.8%) and less than a quarter were very impaired (22.9%) cognitively and/or physically upon discharge to home. Their caregivers were their children (48.6%) or spouses (28.6%), half of whom worked full-time outside the home. Most (85.7%) caregivers were female, in good health, and with no experience (81.8%) in caring for patients at home. / School of Nursing

Thesis (Ph. D. in Community Research and Action)--Vanderbilt University, Aug. 2008. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 1992. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-183).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-160).