Current Status of Family Caregivers Providing Excretion Care for Older People Requiring Care while Using Multiple Home Life Support Services

To clarify the current status of family caregivers providing excretion care for older people requiring care while using multiple home life support services. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 family caregivers who had provided or were providing excretion care for older people requiring care while using multiple home life support services, and qualitatively analyzed the interview data. The family caregivers’ current status of providing excretion care and thoughts/feelings about such care were summarized into 6 categories: [utilizing equipment that supports excretory function], [aiming for excretory care that protects the dignity of people requiring care], [finding it burdensome to assist with excretory movements], [facing difficulties in adjusting the defecation rhythm], [finding it burdensome to deal with urinary and fecal incontinence], and [finding it burdensome to provide excretion care for older people with dementia]. The status of home life support service use by these family caregivers was represented by 6 categories: [complex services], [relationships with professionals], [rest for family caregivers themselves], [emotional support], [physical and mental limitations], and [various caregiving and living challenges]. The results revealed that, as excretion care is provided several times a day, including the night-time, temporary use of services does not reduce the burden of excretion care on family caregivers in home care, even if the services are combined according to individual circumstances. On the other hand, building good relationships with professionals and receiving emotional support through the use of home life support services was suggested to be an important support for these caregivers to continue caregiving.