ELDERLY PATIENTS AND THEIR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS PERCEPTIONS OF CARE GIVEN - THE STUDY CONTROL WARD DESIGN

This preliminary study is part of an ongoing action research project. Elderly patients (n = 45) and their informal caregivers (n = 147) comp leted a questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the q uality of care from both the patients' and their informal caregivers' points of view and to compare differences in perceived quality of care between study and control wards in different hospitals. Results indic ated that the great majority of elderly patients were satisfied with t he fulfilment of their needs. Informal caregivers evaluated the qualit y of care more critically than did the patients. Statistically signifi cant differences were found between the control and the study wards in acute-care settings; however, differences between the wards in long-t erm care settings were non-significant. Nurses and researchers must be tter understand the needs of an increasing population of elderly patie nts. Informal caregivers are in a key position to help nursing profess ionals to cope with the future challenges of elderly people's care. Th eir perceptions must also be taken into account.