Family Caregivers Happier When Continuing Hobbies

Stroke caregivers are happier when they continue to enjoy their own hobbies and interests, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

Interestingly, researchers found that the happiest of the 399 family caregivers maintained their own hobbies and activities, and were the happiest when caring for a loved one who survived a more severe stroke.

“I was most surprised that caregivers were happier when caring for a family member who survived a more severe stroke,” said Jill Cameron, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy in the Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Toronto.

Research revealed that the caregiver’s attitude also impacts happiness. If caregivers feel they can handle taking care of a family member and that they will grow from the experience, and they continue to take part in activities that interest them, they are happier, she said.

Researchers said learning which factors led to more content caregivers will allow the healthcare system to make adjustments to better support stroke survivors and their families. “If the family is doing better, that helps the patient do better,” Cameron said.

For more information about the study, visit http://newsroom.heart.org/news/older-active-confident-stroke-caregivers-are-happiest.