Exploring Caregivers' Perceptions of the Availability, Usefulness, and Influence of Community Resources when Caring for their Child with Medical Complexity

Evidence shows that caregivers of children with medical complexity continually report unmet needs when caring for their child at home and in their communities. Despite this, there is limited research on their perceptions of the established community supports developed to meet these needs. Twenty caregivers of CMC were interviewed. Analysis revealed themes on how caregivers use existing supports, whether these supports meet the needs of caregivers and children and influence their outcomes, barriers to accessing supports, and what additional community supports are needed. This critical information will guide future studies to identify specific targets to improve child and family outcomes, advance health policy, and drive future research.