The Experiences of Family Caregivers under the Long-term Care Insurance

Eun-Young Kim; Ga Eon Lee; Sam-Sook Kim; Chun Yee Lee

doi:10.12799/jkachn.2012.23.4.347

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Kim, Lee, Kim, and Lee: The Experiences of Family Caregivers under the Long-term Care Insurance

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing 2012; 23(4): 347-357.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2012.23.4.347

The Experiences of Family Caregivers under the Long-term Care Insurance

Eun-Young Kim, Ga Eon Lee, Sam-Sook Kim, Chun Yee Lee

Department of Nursing, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Lee, Ga Eon. Department of Nursing, Dong-A University, 32 Daeshin Park Street, Seo-gu, Busan 602-714, Korea. Tel: +82-51-240-2885, Fax: +82-51-240-2920, gelee@dau.ac.kr

Received 14 June 2012 Accepted 7 December 2012

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of family caregivers who care for the elderly under Long-term Care Insurance.

Methods

Data were collected using focus group interviews and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. The four focus groups consisted of eight caregivers, two social workers and three nurses in B city, Korea.

Results

Five themes were identified: 'Obtaining a care-helper certification for employment', 'Taking care of the elderly in their homes', 'Difficulties due to life changes', 'Difficulties due to reduced wages' and 'Dissatisfaction with the Long-term Care Insurance operating system'.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate that the long-term care system for family caregivers faces many systematic challenges in providing care for the elderly harmoniously in their home. To help them succeed in their tasks, Long-term Care Insurance system must offer respite and support programs to family caregivers.

Keywords: Qualitative research, Focus groups, Aged, Caregivers, Insurance, Long-term care

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Themes for the Experiences of Family Caregivers under the Long-term Care Insurance

Notes

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2011-0005399).

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