A MODEL OF CAREGIVING EFFECTIVENESS FOR TECHNOLOGICALLY DEPENDENT ADULTS RESIDING AT HOME

Caregiver-care-receiver interactions unique to this model of caregivin g effectiveness were tested longitudinally in a randomly drawn nationa l sample of 111 caregivers. Path analyses results indicate that variab les explain variance in caregiver and patient quality of life, patient condition, and technological side effects. These findings extend nurs ing knowledge related to caregiving motivation-to-help and mutual inte ractions and thus have implications for home care practice. Effective family caregiving of loved ones dependent on technology for survival c an result in enhanced patient condition, return to work, normalization of family life, and for society a reduction in health care costs.