The Impact of Caring for Persons with Stroke on the Leisure Occupations of Female Caregivers

ABSTRACT

Aim: The purpose of this phenomenological study is to contribute to the literature surrounding caregivers of persons with stroke and to understand the caregivers' perspective on leisure participation and quality of life. Methods: Caregivers (n = 4) of clients with stroke were recruited for the study via convenience sampling. Participants were audio-recorded during a semi-structured interview lasting 60–80 minutes. The interview guide included open-ended questions about the participant's leisure participation and quality of life. Recorded data was transcribed and in-vivo coding was completed. Results: Eight categories were developed from the identified codes and narrowed into primary themes: role shift, loss of control, and occupational deprivation, consistent with Moustakas (1994) as adapted by Creswell (2013). Conclusions: Understanding the essence of the lived experience of caregivers is important to the occupational therapy profession because of the prevalence of caregiver burden and the impact such role-transition has on their occupational participation and that of the client.

KEYWORDS:

• Leisure
• quality of life
• stroke patients
• informal caregivers

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Dana Howell.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Dedication

This work is dedicated to my late grandfather, Roy Lee Wigginton, who inspired my interest in the occupational therapy profession.