家庭成員安置年邁家屬入住長期照護機構的適應

Family Caregivers' Adjustment to Nursing Home Placement of Older Relatives

家庭成員安置其高齡父母入住長期照護機構所面臨衝擊的相關文獻仍不夠完整。在入住安置的決定過程中，家庭的成員經常會感到壓力、震驚、憂慮、恐懼、抵抗或是罪惡感。文獻指出，將年邁家屬安置於長期照護機構後，家庭成員仍可能持續感受到精神上的壓力、身體和心理調適的困擾。文化及價值觀對一個人的態度、價值和期望的影響，也可能進一步影響照顧的過程。現存有關支持／協助家庭照顧者的文獻多產生自英語系的歐美國家，有關亞裔或其他族群，則相對較少。瞭解家庭成員安置家人入住機構的經驗，可以使專業人員注意到安置前家庭指導的需要，甚至可以提早發現潛在性的問題。本文將回顧相關文獻，並討論家庭照顧者對決定安置高齡長輩入住機構所面臨的衝擊，以及進入機構後，可能持續經驗到的壓力與挑戰。

The literature on the impact of nursing home placement of older parents on family caregivers is still incomplete. Family caregivers experience stress, shock, anxiety, fear, resistance, and guilt in the process of decision making. The literature has demonstrated that family caregivers continue to experience stress and problems after placing older relatives into a long term care facility. Cultural values impact on people's attitudes, values and expectations. Culture will therefore affect the care-giving experience. Relatively little information is available from Asian and multicultural societies. Identifying family caregiver experiences after nursing home placement can alert professionals to the need for family guidance prior to nursing home placement and assist in early identification of potential problems. This article reviews the literature and discusses the impact on family caregivers of making a decision for nursing home placement and dealing with the stress and challenges that persist after nursing home admission.