Long term home care for the elderly: perceptions of nurses, physicians, and primary caregivers.

A qualitative research study was conducted to gain an understanding of the perceptions of nurses, physicians, and elderly caregivers regarding the experience of long term home care. The sample included 2 discharge planning nurses, 4 home health nurses, 4 geriatric physicians, and 12 nonprofessional spouse caregivers older than age 60. Analysis of the data revealed three distinct major topic areas: making decisions about home care, the nature of long term home care, and caregivers' concerns and needs. In general, most spouses want to provide home care for their partners but are often discouraged from doing so by their children and/or by health professionals. Caregivers receive little preparation for their roles, and most have little or no contact with the formal health care system.