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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Elizabeth B. Dowdell, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, Villanova University, St. Mary's Hall, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085, 610-519-6820, elizabeth.dowdell@villanova.edu
Society has seen an increase in the prevalence of grandmothers raising their grandchildren due to parental drug use and/or child neglect and maltreatment. This descriptive study was designed to examine the relationship between caregiver stress and caregiver physical health for grandmothers raising their high-risk grandchild(ren). The sample consisted of 104 grandmothers. The findings indicated that caregiver physical health correlated strongly with level of stress, financial status, and the established measure of "caregiver burden." Further analysis suggests that physical health variables had an observable impact upon caregiver outcomes.
Since this study suggests, from results of a multiple regression, descriptive and correlational statistics, that the wellbeing of the grandmother and grandchild are both linked to the grandmother's physical health, there are numerous nursing interventions that may support a positive outcome for both. The provision of emotional and psychosocial support, coupled with health education and periodic health evaluations are known to improve a grandmother's perception of her own health. Nurses can use the measures of caregiver burden to develop care plans that will target the health issues most likely to improve a grandmother's functional ability to remain the primary caregiver for a high-risk grandchild.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.