Determining the Needs of Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients During Inpatient Rehabilitation Using Interview, Art, and Survey

The purpose of this study is to explore the needs of family members at the bedside of stroke patients (n = 12) admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). Family members' needs were determined through semistructured interviews, Draw a Bridge art therapy technique, and the Family Inventory of Needs. Family members described a family-centered approach to care that addressed the following needs: assistance with preparing for discharge, staff caring for family members, communication about the plan of care and what to expect postdischarge, and trusting the care provided by IRF staff. Art therapy revealed that stroke was a crisis with many unmet needs for the interviewer to explore. Descriptive statistical analysis of the Family Inventory of Needs revealed that both met and unmet needs were consistent with the interviews and the interpretations of the drawings. These findings inform the need for interventions during IRF to enhance communication, support, and effective caregiver education amidst the crisis of stroke.