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

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).

Inclusion Criteria:family caregiverbeing 18 years of age or olderproviding daily care for an adult family memberparticipating in one of following:the Kela's integrated face-to-face rehabilitation and telerehabilitation service for family caregivers,the MTLH's face-to-face Social Holidays for family caregivers orthe Kela's face-to-face rehabilitation services for family caregivers and care recipientswillingness to participate in the study