Adjustment of Persons with Acquired Disability and Its Impact on Caregivers

Back ground: Acquired disability has been a big challenge to many people. The onset of the disability is usually a confusing period for the family members and the significant others. Many caregivers end up expressing learned helplessness therefore not able to adequately support the Person with acquired disability.

Objective: This study sought to find out if the caregivers are affected by the caregiving activities as they helped the person with acquired disability regain the their residual abilities.

Method: Qualitative and quantitative data was used to draw conclusions regarding the topic. Questionnaires and scheduled interviews were distributed and carried out respectively to the caregivers and analyzed using thematic approach and SPSS.

Findings: The caregivers in the study were n = 112.Results showed that two thirds of the caregivers 64% got positive change of attitude at x = 9.84, df = 3 significance level 0.020 and more experience and training led to better service to persons with acquired disability the education level of the caregivers influenced the quality of service to the persons with acquired disabilityx= 6.46, df = 2 significance level 0.039 .

Conclusions: From these findings it is evident that caregivers need support so as to enhance the service they provide persons with physical disability. It is also needful for policies and programs that would support caregivers of persons with physical disability be put in place to help them gain knowledge and the psychosocial support that would enable them to provide better care.