Att vårda en person som drabbats av stroke : Anhörigas upplevelser

Background: Each year approximately 30 000 people suffer from stroke in Sweden, often with substantial mental and physical consequences. Those who suffered from stroke handled the situation by mourning what they had lost and by accepting their changed body and life situation. For those who provide care for people who has suffered a stroke help and support was required. The caring science perspective was based upon caring and suffering. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe family caregivers’ experiences of caring for persons who had suffered a stroke. Method: The method consisted of a systematic review with a descriptive synthesis and an inductive approach. Results: The analysis resulted in four major themes: alienation, dependency, change and control. Alienation was based on feelings of isolation and abandonment. Through the need for support from others and a new responsibility dependence was experienced. Change involved both a change of roles and the loss of independence. Lack of control resulted in feelings of uncertainty. In order to regain control methods to manage the life situation was used. Conclusions: Family caregivers experienced the caring for the person who had suffered a stroke as a responsibility that was forced upon them and the lack of support from the health care services contributed to negative experiences. By using coping strategies to manage the life situation family caregivers accepted the new life situation