Well-being and monetary value for family caregivers of terminal cancer patients in Taiwan

Taiwanese authorities are at the blueprinting stage of launching a public long-term-care insurance to resolve the social issues resulting from her rapidly aging population. As more demanding tasks have been shifted to families, the vital role played by family caregivers in supporting patients is well recognized, but the burden and economic impact on caregivers is poorly understood. Using a nation-wide survey on primary family caregivers of terminal cancer patients in Taiwan, this study aimed: i) examined the family caregiver's well-being index (physical, mental, financial resources, and social participation, etc.), ii) predict certain aspects of caregivers' well-being index by their demographic and care giving characteristics, iii) separates the studied sample and compare in conventional and hospice settings, and iv) simulate the monetary value of maintain the same level of well-being when primary family caregivers are asked to provide an extra hour of caring. Preliminary findings indicate that family caregivers of terminal cancer patients who received conventional caring had lower well-being index (more severely negatively affected) and demanded higher monetary value than the hospice setting. These findings have implications to define a subset of caregivers whom need to give focused attention. Furthermore, if the proposed public long-term-care insurance offers the same amount of cash benefits to all family caregivers, those caring terminal cancer patients under conventional caring will be less satisfied. On the other hand, it may prompt the acceptance of hospice as the end-of-life caring, which will reduce of medical cost and provide comfort to patients.