Purpose in life and self-actualization in agency-supported caregivers

When families cannot serve as full-time caregivers for severely, mentally i ll family members, agency-supported caregivers provide an alternative to ch ronic hospitalization. Caregivers who provide 24 hour per day care experien ce caregiver burden; they also find rewards and meaning in their work. The purpose of this study is to observe positive experiences of paid caregivers for seriously, mentally ill individuals, especially the meaning or purpose it gives their lives and the self-fulfilment or self-actualization that ca regiving provides. The caregivers in this study possessed a high purpose in life suggesting that caregiving may give meaning to life. Also, the caregi vers of these individuals with severe, mental illness tend to be highly oth er-oriented (altruistic), an external focus that may decrease their own sel f-awareness. Thus, caregivers who provide continuous residential care may b enefit from therapeutic interventions designed to reinforce self-care skill s.