AIMS: To investigate the current status of psychological dysfunction in family members of elderly patients following an intensive care hospitalisation to determine the influencing factors and provide a basis for developing relevant caring strategies. BACKGROUND: Due to the physiological changes associated with advanced age, elderly patients are at increased risk of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The experience of intensive care can place significant psychological strain on the families of elderly patients. However, the attention devoted to post-intensive care syndrome-family (PICS-F) psychological dysfunction and the level of caring services provided to their families are inadequate. Investigating the psychological disorders of elderly patients' family members with PICS-F represents a crucial step in improving the quality of caring services. METHODS: A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 440 family members of elderly patients who were transferred out of three ICUs in a tertiary A comprehensive hospital in Shandong Province from July 2023 to February 2024. The evaluation tools included the General Information Questionnaire, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Civilian Version. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors of psychological dysfunction in family members after the patients' ICU stay. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The research subjects were recruited to complete the surveys face-to-face or by telephone. RESULTS: The incidence of psychological disorders among elderly patient family members after the ICU stay was 54.80%. Multiple logistic regression analysis results revealed that the following variables were associated with psychological illnesses after intensive care unit stays: family gender, monthly income per capita of family members, the level of perceived social support and coping style. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of psychological disorders in the family members of elderly patients after ICU was relatively high. Medical staff should strengthen the observation of the psychological status of the family members and take targeted measures based on relevant influencing factors to enhance their level of caring services and prevent or reduce the occurrence of PICS-F psychological disorders.