A phenomenological study on the lived experiences of caregivers in a geriatric institution

Date of Completion

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

Caregivers, Homes for the Aged

Abstract

This study attempted to understand and uncover the different experiences of caregivers of patients in a geriatric institution. This purpose was accomplished through a qualitative research design, which utilized the phenomenological description of themes that is based on the caregivers' experiences. The grand tour question of this study is "What are your experiences as a caregiver of geriatric patients? (Ano ang iyong mga naging karanasan bilang isang tagapangalaga ng mga matatanda?)  This study is confined to interviewing caregivers who are employed in the geriatric institution in Imus, Cavite. This study did not include other health care professionals such as nurses, doctors and midwives but rather to caregivers who do not hold a degree in health related courses, but instead were trained by the geriatric institution where they work. There is no limitation with regard to age, gender and civil status and months of service in the geriatric institution, as well as whether they are live-in caregivers or not. This study did not intend to generalize the experiences of caregivers working in a geriatric institution but only made a representation of the informants' experiences.   Analysis of extracted information from the informants led to the researchers' understanding of a caregivers' lived experience in a geriatric institution. The researchers were able to capture the informants' feelings and emotions as well as the changes that took place in every aspect of their life as they perform their duties as a caregiver in a geriatric institution. It was found out that there are various reasons that justify the informants' decision to be a caregiver in a geriatric institution. Whether these reasons are based on the demands of their own personal life, of their desire to be part of the health care team that aids in the maintenance of the elderly patients' functioning, in the end, most of the elderly is rooted on the thought that love and concern for the elderly and a sense of fulfillment while caregiving have already developed while they perform their duties as a caregiver. As a caregiver in an elderly institution, it is expected that one of the informants' main function is to aid in the physical care of the elderly patient. This includes assisting them in their daily activities, maintaining their personal hygiene, and attending to other needs necessary to sustain an elderly patient's health. The emotional aspect of an elderly patient's life is another facet that informants consider while giving them care. The importance of their caregiving is not only seen as they strive to attend to their patients' physical needs but their emotional needs as well. Having love and patience, for the elderly patient is as important as being skillful to meet the demands of their job. These virtues enable them to stick to their professions despite of the numerous presenting hardships. Physical, emotional, and financial hardships are what the informants endure as they act as a caregiver in an elderly institution. Significantly, some informants consider the financial compensations that they receive as a major cause of their hardship in the institution whereas others consider this as insignificant reasoning that they work not for the money but for their love dedicated to the elderly patient. The hardships that the informants experience enabled them to be a better caregiver and person. Being employed at an elderly institution entails a lot of patients and self-control on the part of the caregivers. Elderly patients usually present behaviors that can irritate a person easily. The informants use a variety of mechanism to cope with the elderly patient's behaviors. In general, the most stressed virtue that one must maintain is self-control considering that some elderly patients are cognitively impaired and that others are too old to realized that some of their behaviors are wrong.

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Call Number: TH NM 06 05

Location: Research Commons

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