Improving Quality of Life for Rural Family Caregivers in Türkiye: A Social Care Service Model Initiative

In rural areas, both regional disadvantage and the challenges of caregiving for older adults may affect family caregivers’ quality of life. This study examined the effectiveness of a social care service model designed for family caregivers of older adults in rural areas. This study used a quasiexperimental design with an intervention group and a control group. A total of 60 family caregivers participated in the study: 30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group. The 8-month intervention included a holistic ecosystem approach encompassing family, social environment, and local service networks, home visits every 3 weeks, and mobile social service components. Quality of life in family caregivers was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF TR scale, developed by the WHO to assess self-perceived quality of life in a multidimensional way. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that caregiver burden, impaired family functioning, and the older person’s level of dependency significantly predicted low quality of life. Furthermore, being male and having a low level of education were identified as other significant risk factors for quality of life. Pearson correlation analysis results indicated that quality of life significantly decreased as caregiver burden increased and family functioning decreased. According to the paired samples t-test results, significant improvements were observed in the subdimensions of quality of life, such as general health, psychological health, social relations, and environmental health in the intervention group, while no significant improvement was achieved in physical health. In the control group, significant decreases in quality of life were observed over time. These findings highlight the importance of developing family-centered, contextually sensitive social care models that include regular home visits, mobile social work applications, and family support systems to enhance caregivers’ quality of life in rural areas.