Life Course Stage and Social Support Mobilization for End-of-Life Caregivers

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 820-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A. LaValley ◽  
Elizabeth A. Gage-Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Course ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Support Resources ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Depth Interviews

Caregivers of terminally ill patients are at risk for anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Social support from friends, family members, neighbors, and health care professionals can potentially prevent or mitigate caregiver strain. While previous research documents the importance of social support in helping end-of-life caregivers cope with caregiving demands, little is known about differences in social support experiences among caregivers at different life course stages. Using life course theory, this study analyzes data from in-depth interviews with 50 caregivers of patients enrolled in hospice services to compare barriers to mobilizing social support among caregivers at two life course stages: midlife caregivers caring for parents and older adult caregivers caring for spouses/partners. Older adult caregivers reported different barriers to mobilizing social support compared with midlife caregivers. Findings enhance the understanding of how caregivers’ life course stage affects their barriers to mobilization of social support resources.

scholarly journals Older Adult Caregivers’ Experiences in an Online, Interactive Mindfulness Intervention

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 2515690X2096065
Author(s):  
Janella Hudson ◽  
Rachel Ungar ◽  
Laurie Albright ◽  
Rifky Tkatch ◽  
James Schaeffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mindfulness Intervention ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers

Background. While today’s older adults experience longevity, they often manage several chronic conditions and increasingly serve as informal caregivers for aging parents, children with life-long disabilities, and spouses. Older adult caregivers managing personal chronic illness often experience significant psychosocial hardships. Objective. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of older adult caregivers in an online, interactive mindfulness intervention. Methods. Self-reported older caregivers who participated in an online-based mindfulness program (n = 20) were recruited for semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to provide feedback about any previous experience with mindfulness and/or meditation, hopes or goals held prior to the start of the program, desired expectations, motivation for joining, impressions of sessions, most beneficial topics, potential application of content, and any perceived effects. Participants’ responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results. Five themes emerged from the analysis: Managing the Comprehensive Effects of Caregiving, Openness to Meditation and Mindfulness, Course Engagement and Incremental Growth, Building Rapport through Shared Experiences, and Ongoing Application and Opportunities for Refinement. Participants reported both short-term post-exercise benefits such as increased calm, relaxation, and stress relief, as well as long-term positive outcomes. Notably, participants found the program’s unique interactive feature to be particularly beneficial as a form of perceived social support. Conclusions. Caregivers for older adults may derive benefit and potentially experience reduced subjective caregiver burden as a result of participating in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, particularly when the program is augmented with a self-compassion approach and perceived social support.

Care Provided by Older Adult Caregivers to a Spouse in Active Cancer Treatment: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. S33
Author(s):  
V. Donison ◽  
N. Toledano ◽  
K. McGilton ◽  
S.M.H. Alibhai ◽  
M. Puts
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers ◽  
Active Cancer

scholarly journals Social Support for Female Sexual Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Granero-Molina ◽  
Tamara María Matarín Jiménez ◽  
Carmen Ramos Rodríguez ◽  
José Manuel Hernández-Padilla ◽  
Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Female Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Formal Support ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Main Support ◽  
Depth Interviews

The aim of this study is to describe and understand experiences related to social support for women with fibromyalgia who suffer from sexual dysfunction. An interpretive qualitative research methodology based on Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics was used. Data collection included a focus group and in-depth interviews with 13 women who averaged 44.8 years of age and 14.3 years since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Data were analyzed using Fleming’s method and two themes were identified: “searching for understanding in socio-family support” and “lack of formal support regarding fibromyalgia patient’s sexuality.” The partner constitutes the main support for women with fibromyalgia. Although they can find understanding and social support in patient associations, they lack formal support from health care professionals. Women demand trusted and expert professionals, like sexologists and nurses, to carry out a multidisciplinary approach to tackle sexual dysfunction associated with fibromyalgia.

scholarly journals Digital Access in Working-Age and Older Adults and Their Caregivers Attending Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics: Quantitative Survey (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Callum Cruickshank ◽  
Donald J MacIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that improving access to mental health services, supporting self-management, and increasing clinical productivity can be achieved through the delivery of technology-enabled care by personal mobile-based and internet-based services. There is little evidence available about whether working-age and older adults with mental health problems or their caregivers have access to these technologies or their confidence with these technologies. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and range of devices used to access the internet in patients and caregivers attending general and older adult psychiatry outpatient services and their confidence in using these technologies. METHODS We conducted an anonymous survey of 77 patients and caregivers from a general psychiatry and old age psychiatry clinic to determine rates of internet access and device ownership, and attitudes to technology-enabled care. RESULTS We found high levels of internet access and confidence in using the internet in working-age adults, their caregivers, and older adult caregivers but not in older adult patients. The smartphone usage predominated in working-age adults and their caregivers. Older adult caregivers were more likely to use desktop or laptop computers. In our sample, tablets were the least popular form factor. CONCLUSIONS Access rates and uptake of internet-based services have the potential to be high in working-age adults and their caregivers but are likely to be markedly lower among older adult patients attending psychiatry clinics. Applications designed for tablets are likely to have low uptake. All groups identified appointment reminders as likely to be beneficial.

scholarly journals The Relation of Pain and Caregiver Burden in Informal Older Adult Caregivers

Pain Medicine ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L. Jones ◽  
Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos ◽  
Jennifer A. Janzen ◽  
Thomas Hadjistavropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Older Adult ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers

scholarly journals Occupational Therapists’ Interactions With Older Adult Caregivers: Negotiating Priorities and Expertise

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Womack ◽  
Margareta Lilja ◽  
Virginia Dickie ◽  
Gunilla Isaksson
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Care Outcomes ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers ◽  
Occupational Therapy Practitioners

Although numerous studies have examined provider–caregiver interactions and their influence on care outcomes, few represent the perspective of the provider or specifically consider occupational therapy practitioners. The aim of this article is to explore the perspectives of occupational therapists regarding interactions with older adult caregivers in geriatric practice settings. The study was conducted using a constructivist grounded theory approach based on data obtained from repeated focus group sessions and subsequent individual reflections. Occupational therapy practitioners interact with older adult caregivers in ways that reflect negotiations about who holds expertise and whose priorities are most relevant in care situations. These interactions are influenced by health care contexts that foreground the needs of the care recipient. A deeper understanding of caregiving as an occupation via a transactional perspective may serve to illuminate complex care situations and optimize therapist–caregiver interactions.

Older Adult Caregivers of Developmentally Disabled Household Members

1987 ◽  
Vol 10 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Caserta ◽  
J. Richard Connelly ◽  
Dale A Lund ◽  
James L. Poulton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adult ◽  
Developmentally Disabled ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers

scholarly journals Development and Validation of an Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) to Measure Implicit Dysfunctional Beliefs about Caregiving in Dementia Family Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Cabrera ◽  
María Márquez-González ◽  
Naoko Kishita ◽  
Carlos Vara-García ◽  
Andrés Losada
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Dysfunctional Beliefs ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult Caregivers

AbstractCaregivers of people with dementia who endorse dysfunctional beliefs about caregiving are at high risk of experiencing higher levels of distress. These dysfunctional beliefs are presented in the form of rules, verbal statements that specify what responsibilities one should expect in order to be a “good caregiver,” and are characterized as rigid, unrealistic, or highly demanding. Previous studies relied exclusively on self-report measures when assessing such dysfunctional beliefs about caregiving. The objectives of this study were: 1) to develop and validate an Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) to measure implicit dysfunctional beliefs about caregiving (CARE-IRAP), and 2) considering the relatively high age of the sample, to analyze the adaptation of the IRAP for older adults, comparing the IRAP performance between older adult caregivers and middle-aged caregivers. Participants were 123 dementia family caregivers with a mean age of 62.24 ± 12.89. Adaptations were made to the IRAP by adjusting the accuracy and response time criteria. The sample was split into middle-aged caregivers (below 60 years) and older adult caregivers (60 or older). The CARE-IRAP scores presented significant positive correlations with explicit measures of dysfunctional beliefs about caregiving and experiential avoidance in caregiving. A similar pattern of results was observed across the two age groups. The results revealed that caregivers endorse implicit dysfunctional beliefs about caregiving and offer preliminary support for the use of the IRAP as a valid measure of implicit caregiving beliefs. This exploratory study is the first to adapt the IRAP criteria to older adults, and future studies should further explore criteria suitable for this population.

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