The Experiences of Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients: A Cross-sectional Study of a French Cohort

Stroke is the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in adults and ranks second among causes of dementia and third among causes of death. In France, stroke affects around 140,000 patients each year and entails enormous economic costs. Given the average age of onset of stroke, its prevalence is expected to increase with increasing life expectancy and the advancing age of the population. Clinically, depending on the region of the brain affected, stroke results in a sudden and abrupt onset of sensorimotor, cognitive, emotional and / or behavioral manifestations, associated with variable recovery from patient to patient. Stroke has psychological, social and family consequences. Indeed, its occurrence could affect patients on a physical and psychological level (direct physical and cognitive sequelae of stroke, decrease or even absence of autonomy and dependence of the entourage, associated psychological changes) and generate repercussions on the dynamics. family or that of the couple (ie, changes in activities, redistribution of tasks, changes or even inversion of roles, alteration of the intimate sphere), as well as professional and social life. This could hamper the quality of life of patients and their loved ones and cause collateral damage to their social or family environment. After discharge from the hospital, the patient's relatives will play a major role in taking charge of home care (e.g. household activities and personal care around hygiene, food, mobility and administration. treatments) as well as in the community (eg purchase of clothes or food, accompaniment to medical visits), although these helpers do not have the professional knowledge and skills in care. Despite the positive effects that caregivers can have in connection with the care they provide (ie, feeling of accomplishment and usefulness, development of a sense linked to this helping role, better self-esteem, improvement of personal skills), their continued investment in their sick relative