Abstract
Owing to the lack of support, caregivers of the frail elderly often face a very difficult decision between family care and institutional placements for their aged family members. Underneath this caring dilemma, counselors should work with family members' mixed emotions,guilty feeling,role conflicts and most fundamentally, help them to reduce their stress in caregiving. Techniques of stress reduction are discussed at the family, caregiver and service support levels. A Telelink service is introduced to provide reassurance and support to caregiver and to enlarge their social support networks. With longevity, caregivers will face longer duration in caregiving and have to deal with possible further deteriorations in the self-care abilities of their frail family members. They should be properly assisted and appreciated while rendering this long-term home care. Family members, the community and the state should provide all necessary supports for the caring of the frail elderly.
| Keywords: | Caregivers of Chinese Frail Elderly; Effective Counseling; Telelink Service; Social Support Networks |
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