The Effects of Integrated Face-to-face Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation on the Well-being of Family Caregivers

Summary

This controlled, non-randomized study (n=180) explores how participating in rehabilitation services for family caregivers affects the caregivers' mood, perceived quality of life, perceived burden of family care, and overall health. Rehabilitation services for family caregivers funded by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) include two 5-day periods of face-to-face rehabilitation and a 12-week telerehabilitation period, which is based on The Own Path internet intervention and takes place between the face-to-face rehabilitation periods. The observed changes are compared to participating in two other services: 1) Social Holidays for family caregivers and 2) Kela's rehabilitation services for family caregivers and the family members they are caring for (care recipients).

Conditions

• Caregivers
• Family Caregivers
• Informal Caregivers

Interventions

OTHER

Face-to-face rehabilitation

Kela's rehabilitation services for family caregivers and the care recipients include three 5-day periods of face-to-face rehabilitation, which are carried out in a Finnish rehabilitation centre over a 10-month period and implemented by a multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation experts. The rehabilitation services for family caregivers and the care recipients are provided free of charge. The service is intended for persons over the age of 18 who work as family caregivers on a daily basis with or without family caregiver support and who need support, tools, and coaching to understand and overcome the challenges posed by the care situation. Individual goals based on the GAS method are set, evaluated, and adjusted during the rehabilitation.

OTHER

Integrated face-to-face rehabilitation and telerehabilitation

Kela´s integrated face-to-face rehabilitation and telerehabilitation services for family caregivers include two 5-day periods of face-to-face rehabilitation and a 12-week telerehabilitation period between them. It is for those over the age of 18 who work as family caregivers on a daily basis and need support, tools, and coaching to understand and overcome the challenges posed by the care situation. Individual goals based on the GAS method are set, evaluated, and adjusted during the rehabilitation. The service, provided free of charge, is carried out in a Finnish rehabilitation centre and online over a period of 8 months, and it is implemented by a multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation experts. During the 12-week telerehabilitation period, the service providers utilise The Own Path, an acceptance and commitment therapy -based guided web intervention found beneficial for older Finnish family caregivers (Lappalainen et al. 2021). Telerehabilitation is independent of time and place.

OTHER

Social Holidays

MTLH's Social Holidays for family caregivers are 5-day holidays in a Finnish hotel, spa, sports institute, or rehabilitation centre. The theme, content, and level of available assistance in Social Holidays vary, and the rehabilitation concept is lighter than that of Kela's rehabilitation services. Social Holidays include full-board accommodation and holiday activities, e.g. lectures, group discussions, instructed exercise, and a pampering treatment. MTLH organises Social Holidays for family caregivers as well as family caregivers and care recipients. The participants cover their travel expenses and pay a fixed sum of €125. Other than that, Social Holidays are provided free of charge. Social Holidays are intended for family caregivers who need recreational activities, rest, and peer support.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Social Insurance Institution, Finland

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Saija Karinkanta, PhD · The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-04-11

Primary Completion

2023-08-31

Completion

2023-08-31

Countries

• Finland

Study Locations