Family Caregiver Involvement and Satisfaction With Institutional Care During the 1st Year After Admission

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between caregivers’ involvement and their satisfaction with institutional care during the 1st year. This panel study includes 145 care-givers. A summary indicator of satisfaction was analyzed (a) near admission and (b) for change 1 year after admission. Caregivers were least satisfied with physicians and the number of staff at both time points. Satisfaction at admission and change in satisfaction from admission to 1 year later were regressed on caregivers’ involvement after controlling for caregivers’ depression, family tension, and perceived behavioral problems of their relatives. Multivariate results indicated that more involved caregivers at admission were less satisfied with institutional care at admission and became less satisfied during the year after admission. More involved caregivers may be less satisfied because they see firsthand problems with nursing home care and because a meaningful caregiving role after institutionalization is not facilitated by nursing homes.