Burnout Self-Care among dependent elderly caregivers in the Mueang district Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

The preliminary study report is a qualitative study. The purpose of this study was to study the management of burnout among caregivers of dependent elderly people in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The informants were 10 caregivers of dependent elderly who had burnout and had been caring for the elderly for 1 year or more. They were registered in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using personal data questionnaires, semi-structured questionnaires, and tape recordings. Quantitative data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and percentage. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

The study results found that factors that caused burnout in elderly caregivers included the duration of caregiving, the caregiver's workload in caring for the elderly each day, the behavior of the elderly, and that caregivers of dependent elderly managed burnout in four ways: 1) remembering the kindness of the elderly, 2) thinking positively, 3) talking with other elderly caregivers, and 4) doing relaxing activities. The results of this study can be used as a guideline for health teams or other relevant agencies to develop a burnout management model and promote mental health among caregivers of dependent elderly to achieve a better quality of life.