[Examination of the power of families taking care of patients at home at peace].
OBJECTIVE: We examined the power of families who take care of a patient at home. We wanted to know how much caring power patients needed to stay at home at peace. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 150 patients who visit the hospital for day care or are taken care of at home under our management. We examined their age, sex, main disease, the points of their families power for their care, the assessment of how peaceful at home, use of care services, and special things. RESULTS: Most of the patients were in their 80's or 70's. Stroke was the main disease. The most care grade are second grade. Higher care grade are smaller number. About 50% of the families paid for care services. The assessment of low care grade patients did not depend on the power of the families. But the assessment of high care grade patients did depend on that. We concluded that it is difficult to take care at home of high care grade patients who does not have some powers on families for his care. If the patient and his/her family want to use care services, they have to pay 10% charge. It is difficult to alleviate the burden they pose on their family.