earticle

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Purpose: This study explored caregivers’ support needs to relieve their physical burden while working in long-term care facilities. Methods: Participants were 12 caregivers with more than 10 years of experience working at six long-term care facilities in Gwangju, South Korea. Data were collected through individual interviews conducted between June and July 2023. The results were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Of the four sub-categories and 13 codes, two categories emerged: "need for welfare medical devices" and "need for improved working conditions." Conclusion: Caregivers working in long-term care facilities require support in deploying and utilizing welfare medical devices to reduce their physical burden, along with improving staffing standards and ensuring they receive the proper amount of days off. Therefore, it is necessary to mandate the provision of a certain level of welfare medical devices to ease the physical burden on caregivers and improve the standards for the placement of caregivers in long-term care facilities.