The coping strategies and needs of caregiving burnout among family caregivers of elderly stroke survivors.

AIMS: Research on caregiving burnout among family caregivers of elderly stroke survivors with partial disability is limited, and their coping strategies and needs remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how these caregivers cope with burnout and what unmet needs they have.

METHODS

This study employed a descriptive qualitative research design. From March to May 2025, 15 family caregivers were recruited from a tertiary hospital via the purposive sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed via inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

Caregivers used both positive coping strategies, such as emotion regulation, cognitive reappraisal, and seeking social support, and negative ones like emotional suppression, self‑isolation, passive acceptance, and avoidance. Their unmet needs fell into two categories. Emotional needs included a desire for family care and social recognition. Resource needs included home care knowledge, long‑term financial support, and professional home rehabilitation devices. These needs were driven by financial strain, limited health literacy, and the heavy burden of care.

CONCLUSIONS

This qualitative study highlights the complexity of caregivers' experiences. The findings emphasize that interventions for caregiving burnout should specifically promote positive coping strategies and precisely address their emotional and resource needs. This requires building family collaboration, providing hospital‑based discharge guidance and psychological support, setting up community peer platforms, and expanding long‑term care insurance and subsidies for home rehabilitation equipment at the policy level.