Improving the Social Support System for Family Caregivers of the Disabled Old in Shanghai

Abstract

親屬照護居家高齡失能老人仍是中國現階段和今后較長時間內的主要照護形式。目前國內關于老年照護的研究集中于老年人本身的照護需求,而對親屬照顧者的照護狀況、困難和需求研究不夠深入。'高齡體弱老人照顧者需求和心理健康狀況'課題組于2010年4—10月對上海市720名戶籍城市居家高齡失能老人及其主要親屬照顧者所進行的抽樣調查表明,目前上海居家高齡失能老人主要親屬照顧者的照護呈現女性居多、中老年退休者為主、經濟條件適中、照護時間較長和照護責任心強的特點。照顧者在照顧過程中面對生理、心理和經濟的壓力雖然能夠積極采取自我解壓的方式,并從家庭獲得支持,但同時對政府和社會提供支持也提出了迫切需求。為此,需要通過健全社會醫療保障體系,強化小區為基礎的居家服務,加強照護知識技能培訓,組建照顧者互助小組,完善以親屬照顧者需求為中心的社會支持系統。 Home care by family caregivers to the disabled elderly in China is still a main form of cares at this stage and remains to be for a long time. Current researches focus on the elderly’s own care needs, but are not enough on family caregivers’ problems and needs. According to a sampling survey in Shanghai in 2010, most of Shanghai s family caregivers for the disabled elderly are women. They are mainly middle-aged retirees, their economic conditions are moderate, and they have a longer care time and stronger sense of responsibility. Family caregivers bear a certain degree of physical, psychological and economic pressures during their care giving. In the face of the pressures from all sides, those who actively take self-extracting or get family supports, need urgent supports from government and social communities. Therefore, this essay suggests setting up a sound social health security system, reinforcing community-based home care services, enhancing care knowledge and skills training, organizing caregiver support groups, and establishing various social support systems.