失能老人家庭之孫子女照顧者的經驗初探

The Preliminary Exploration of Grandchild Caregivers’ Experiences in Families with Frail Older People

本研究目的是提供洞悉去了解孫子女家庭照顧者其自覺的照顧經驗。採質性研究，研究者利用個別性訪談，和四個孫子女照顧者討論在照顧他們失能的祖父母時，他們的照顧角色和所面臨到的挑戰。每個孫子女照顧者都呈現出獨特的個人照顧經驗和顯示出4個場景：無法喘息的多重任務、被中斷的工作減少家庭收入、傳統駕馭的權利和資源分布不均、以及互惠失衡的不平等照顧責任。他們普遍都遭遇相同問題和發展出共同的身體、心理、社會的照顧負荷，包括：疲憊、挫折、經濟困難、和家庭關係不和諧。政府和健康專家是需要提供正式支持去協助孫子女照顧者同時處理家務、工作、家庭和照顧等角色任務執行。

This study aims to provide insight into the perceptive experiences of grandchild caregivers. In this article, qualitative research was used and the researcher individually interviewed with four grandchild caregivers to discuss their caregiver roles or challenges during taking care of their frail grandparents. Each grandchild caregiver presented unique individual experiences and revealed four serials including multiple tasks without respite, disruption of work inhibiting family income, inequality of traditional-dictated authorities and resources, and unequal caregiving responsibilities from failed reciprocity. They commonly experienced caregiving burden of physical, psychological and social impacts in respect of fatigue, frustration, financial difficulties, and family disharmony. Health professionals need additional assistance to help them overcome the challenges associated with managing a household, career, family, and caregiving roles.