Personal assistance for patients living with a severe neurological disorder.

• Patients with neurological diseases increasingly are being cared for at home. The purpose of this study was to describe stressful everyday experiences in connection with neurological disorders, to learn how people cope with such experiences, and gain knowledge about coping resources. Twenty-seven persons receiving personal assistance were interviewed twice at home. The 54 interviews were subjected to inductive content analysis. The persons encountered many problems in everyday life and usually handled them by means of acceptance, avoidance, practical problem solving, and reappraisal. Dependence on personal assistance gave rise to a sense of helplessness, but it was also the major coping resource. Nurses can improve home care by giving instruction and guidance to persons working as personal assistants.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adaptation; Psychological

Adult

Chronic Disease

Female

Home Care Services

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Nervous System Diseases/complications/*psychology/*rehabilitation

Professional-Patient Relations

Stress; Psychological/etiology/psychology

Sweden

Nursing

Omvårdnad

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)