A Classification of Care Burden on Families with Disabled Members and Social Support for Family Caregiving

Abstract

The caregiving burden perceived by families with disabled members encompasses psychological, social, and economic challenges. This study classifies, by employing Q-methodology, the subjective perceptions of caregiving burden among families of children with disabilities into different types and elucidates the trends associated with each type. The care burden on families with disabled children is categorized in this study into three types: ‘proactive response, ‘concerned-for-the-future-of-disabled-children’, and ‘voicing-for-support’. After examining classifiable commonalities in respondents’ subjective perceptions about caregiving burden, we offer several suggestions. First, a formal support system should be established that provides health check-ups and health support to family caregivers of disabled individuals. Second, there is a need for universal support and crisis-response assistance for families with disabled members. Third, long-term measures should be pursued to enhance the user’s trust in the quality of social care. Fourth, a trustworthy system of practical support should be built to assist in the self-reliance of children with disabilities living with their families.