Understanding Unpaid Caregivers' Experiences
Author Information
Author(s): Funk Laura, Kuryk Kaitlyn, Spring Lauren, Keefe Janice
Primary Institution: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hypothesis
How well do institutionalized assumptions about unpaid caregivers match the experiences of home care clients?
Conclusion
The study found that the experiences of home care clients often do not align with normative assumptions about unpaid caregivers.
Supporting Evidence
- Only one participant had access to a caregiver that aligned with normative conceptualizations.
- Family members often faced physical or mental health challenges limiting their participation in care.
- Caregivers facing burnout sought to limit their participation in care.
- Older adults sometimes hesitated to accept help from family members.
- Caregivers were often unavailable, unreliable, or peripheral.
- Clients' unpaid support networks were diffuse without a clearly identifiable caregiver.
Takeaway
This study looked at how older adults get help at home and found that many caregivers don't fit the usual ideas of what a caregiver is.
Methodology
The analysis is based on case study interviews with twelve home care clients and their caregivers, conducted before and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Limitations
The study may not represent all home care clients as it focuses on a specific group of twelve.
Participant Demographics
Participants included older adults receiving publicly funded home care and their unpaid caregivers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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