The needs of informal caregivers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate by means of a semi-structured interview questionnaire, the impac that informal caregiving had on a sample of 20 caregivers during the time of caregiving and bereavement. Needs of the caregiver, areas of support, and community services utilized were also identified. The setting for this research was a rural municipality in Manitoba. It was found that caregivers experience needs and concerns similar to those identified in other research on informal caregiving and bereavement. This study is unusual for its retrospective approach as well as its examination of caregiving as a process that extends its impact on the caregiver after the death of the recipient of care into the bereavement period.