Collaborative Research on Occupational Balance (CROB): Exploration and enhancement of occupational balance in informal caregivers of persons after stroke

Stroke is one of the most common causes of permanent disability. A stroke not only changes the everyday life of the person affected, but also influences the entire family system, which is usually heavily involved in care and support after a stroke. In many European countries, informal caregivers form the backbone of care systems. One challenge for them is to balance their roles and tasks related to care and support activities and other meaningful everyday activities such as self-care, leisure, or employment. This can possibly impact their own occupational balance, the balance of satisfaction between the number and variation of activities in all areas of life. To date, research in the field of informal care has primarily focused on mental and physical stress. Possible effects of an occupational imbalance on health and well-being of informal caregivers are under-explored. CROB is a research collaboration with partners from Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Duervation in Lower Austria, which aims to better understand the changing impact of informal care on the occupational balance of informal caregivers of stroke survivors. Hindering and supporting factors are identified at individual, social and political levels. The research project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between occupational balance and health-related quality of life, as well as the social determinants of health. Furthermore, this research collaboration aims to provide an overview of existing interventions to improve occupational balance and to develop recommendations for targeted interventions on a structural and individual level to promote occupational balance in family caregivers. Two applications for research funding at national and EU level are planned. Contact details: IMC: [email protected] Duervation: Priv.-Doz. Prof. (FH) Mona Dür, PhD, MSc E-Mail: [email protected] Cornelia Lischka, Bsc, MSc E-Mail: [email protected] Karolinska Institute: Dr. Mandana Fallah Pour, PhD E-Mail: [email protected] Prof. Susanne Guidetti, PhD E-Mail: [email protected]