Background: The world’s population is ageing, resulting in rising care demands and healthcare costs, which in turn lead to a shift from formal to informal care. However, not only is the number of potential informal carers fast decreasing, but also informal caregivers are experiencing a higher caregiver burden. This literature review aims to synthesize the literature on the common determinants
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: The world’s population is ageing, resulting in rising care demands and healthcare costs, which in turn lead to a shift from formal to informal care. However, not only is the number of potential informal carers fast decreasing, but also informal caregivers are experiencing a higher caregiver burden. This literature review aims to synthesize the literature on the common determinants of caregiver burden in Western countries, to help ensure future continuation of informal care in the home context, and to improve or sustain the quality of life of caregivers and patients alike. Method: A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles included in PubMed, Scopus, and/or PsychInfo was conducted. Results: Seventeen articles were included. The most important predictors were the duration of caregiving and the patient’s dependency level, in terms of both physical and mental dependency stemming from decreased cognitive capacity or behavioural problems. Some specific illnesses and role conflicts or captivity also increased caregiver burden, whereas social support lowered it. Being a female caregiver or having an adult–child relationship led to a higher burden. Conclusions: The most important predictors of caregiver burden are the duration of caregiving and the patient’s dependency level. In addition, the patient’s behavioural problems and cognitive capacity determine dependency level, and thus care burden. Interventions to relieve burden need to be adapted to the illness trajectory of specific diseases and corresponding needs for social support for both the recipient and the caregiver. Changing role expectations, leading to men being more involved, could reduce the disproportionately high burden for women.
(Edited publisher abstract)
... has a 50:50 chance of caring by the time they are 50, yet most people do not have plans in place. The analysis also shows that women on average take on caring responsibilities over a decade earlier than men, they are also more likely to be caring for more hours than men. With most carers in the middle age, the report also highlights importance of providing support to help carers to remain in the workplace. Based on the analysis, the report proposes policy recommendations to raise awareness of caring, maintain carers health and wellbeing, and enable carers to remain in the workplace.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report looks at the prevalence of caring the UK and people's likelihood of becoming a carer in the future. It draws new analysis of longitudinal data in the British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society, carried out by the Universities of Sheffield and Birmingham as part of the ‘Sustainable Care: connecting people and systems programme’. The analysis shows that the average person has a 50:50 chance of caring by the time they are 50, yet most people do not have plans in place. The analysis also shows that women on average take on caring responsibilities over a decade earlier than men, they are also more likely to be caring for more hours than men. With most carers in the middle age, the report also highlights importance of providing support to help carers to remain in the workplace. Based on the analysis, the report proposes policy recommendations to raise awareness of caring, maintain carers health and wellbeing, and enable carers to remain in the workplace.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Journal of Family Social Work, 19(5), 2016, pp.420-442.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
With the ever-increasing growth in the ageing population, the need for care providers will also continue to rise. Many of these caregivers will provide informal care to family members and friends at a price to their own physical, psychological, and social well-being. This article examines the phenomenon of caregiving and provides a review of the biological, psychological, and social impacts of caregiving to care providers. George Engel’s biopsychosocial model is explored to examine the biological, psychological, and social factors that can affect a caregiver’s health and well-being. This article further explores social work practice implications and strategies for future intervention to reduce caregiver burnout and aid in their self-preservation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
With the ever-increasing growth in the ageing population, the need for care providers will also continue to rise. Many of these caregivers will provide informal care to family members and friends at a price to their own physical, psychological, and social well-being. This article examines the phenomenon of caregiving and provides a review of the biological, psychological, and social impacts of caregiving to care providers. George Engel’s biopsychosocial model is explored to examine the biological, psychological, and social factors that can affect a caregiver’s health and well-being. This article further explores social work practice implications and strategies for future intervention to reduce caregiver burnout and aid in their self-preservation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Using qualitative inquiry, this article describes the plans that female caregivers have for their ageing. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 15 female caregivers between the ages of 50 and 65 who were caring for an ill and disabled parent or parent-in-law. Most participants had made plans in the areas of finances, living arrangements, health, and social network, but others had made minimal plans, acknowledging barriers and limitations of planning for later life. A discussion of social work practice implications is included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Using qualitative inquiry, this article describes the plans that female caregivers have for their ageing. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 15 female caregivers between the ages of 50 and 65 who were caring for an ill and disabled parent or parent-in-law. Most participants had made plans in the areas of finances, living arrangements, health, and social network, but others had made minimal plans, acknowledging barriers and limitations of planning for later life. A discussion of social work practice implications is included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Older people’s care provision is structurally undervalued, posing a threat to social connectedness and healthy aging. Thus, the question arises of how older people’s care provision can be valued in diverse economies. By addressing this question, this article proposes a novel perspective by shedding light on the value of contributions older people provide to society, which in turn promote their own well-being. By highlighting evolutionary and proximal motives for older people to provide care, this article advances the theoretical understanding of the benefits of caregiving in the global aging context, going beyond previous successful aging approaches. These new directions aim to center older people’s needs while accounting for their care provisions to fruitfully inform policymaking. Finally, the main challenge remaining for future work is to create adequate and valuable opportunities for older people to provide care as Homines curans.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Older people’s care provision is structurally undervalued, posing a threat to social connectedness and healthy aging. Thus, the question arises of how older people’s care provision can be valued in diverse economies. By addressing this question, this article proposes a novel perspective by shedding light on the value of contributions older people provide to society, which in turn promote their own well-being. By highlighting evolutionary and proximal motives for older people to provide care, this article advances the theoretical understanding of the benefits of caregiving in the global aging context, going beyond previous successful aging approaches. These new directions aim to center older people’s needs while accounting for their care provisions to fruitfully inform policymaking. Finally, the main challenge remaining for future work is to create adequate and valuable opportunities for older people to provide care as Homines curans.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
self care, older people, carers, ageing, age discrimination;
This report uses new data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to examine the prevalence of social care among the population aged 65 and the changes to the needs and care receipt of individuals across time and between different birth cohorts. Just over a quarter (26%) of this population reported receiving some assistance in their own home. Receipt of care is strongly associated with individual needs, with individuals who report a greater number of difficulties most likely to receive informal and formal care. Informal care is the most prevalent type of care, and family structure has a strong association with the receipt of care. Individuals in couples or with other family members (such as children or siblings) are more likely to receive informal care and less likely to receive formal care. For those who received formal care, the most common source of care was home care workers, home helpers or personal assistants, who provided help with a range of activities. The results of this study indicate that among the cohorts considered there is some evidence of later generations having reduced care needs (and this has fed through into lower prevalence of help with particular activities for these cohorts). The report also argues that it is vital, given the role played by family in providing care, to consider changes over time in family composition when thinking about the extent to which informal care can meet future needs.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report uses new data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to examine the prevalence of social care among the population aged 65 and the changes to the needs and care receipt of individuals across time and between different birth cohorts. Just over a quarter (26%) of this population reported receiving some assistance in their own home. Receipt of care is strongly associated with individual needs, with individuals who report a greater number of difficulties most likely to receive informal and formal care. Informal care is the most prevalent type of care, and family structure has a strong association with the receipt of care. Individuals in couples or with other family members (such as children or siblings) are more likely to receive informal care and less likely to receive formal care. For those who received formal care, the most common source of care was home care workers, home helpers or personal assistants, who provided help with a range of activities. The results of this study indicate that among the cohorts considered there is some evidence of later generations having reduced care needs (and this has fed through into lower prevalence of help with particular activities for these cohorts). The report also argues that it is vital, given the role played by family in providing care, to consider changes over time in family composition when thinking about the extent to which informal care can meet future needs.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, ageing, adult social care, carers, demographics;
This article reports the findings of an exploratory study examining service provider perceptions and experiences of addressing sexuality and intimacy with women spousal caregivers. The caregiver–provider encounter is examined, and challenges faced by service providers in addressing sexuality are considered. Themes identified include ambivalence and discomfort, personal and institutional barriers, meanings attributed to sexuality and intimacy, and lack of opportunities to discuss experiences. Strategies to overcome silence and invisibility on the part of service providers in the health and social services system are considered.
(Publisher abstract)
This article reports the findings of an exploratory study examining service provider perceptions and experiences of addressing sexuality and intimacy with women spousal caregivers. The caregiver–provider encounter is examined, and challenges faced by service providers in addressing sexuality are considered. Themes identified include ambivalence and discomfort, personal and institutional barriers, meanings attributed to sexuality and intimacy, and lack of opportunities to discuss experiences. Strategies to overcome silence and invisibility on the part of service providers in the health and social services system are considered.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
ageing, carers, partners, sexuality, social care provision;
Families in Society, 93(1), January 2012, pp.55-64.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
To date, there has been little research exploring the extent to which active ageing is facilitated by family and nonfamilial support persons of older adults with intellectual disabilities. This study investigated the role played by key unpaid carers of older adults with lifelong intellectual disabilities in facilitating “active ageing”. Disability service providers in Queensland and Victoria,
To date, there has been little research exploring the extent to which active ageing is facilitated by family and nonfamilial support persons of older adults with intellectual disabilities. This study investigated the role played by key unpaid carers of older adults with lifelong intellectual disabilities in facilitating “active ageing”. Disability service providers in Queensland and Victoria, Australia, were asked to identify service users who met the participation criteria (being over 50 and able to verbally communicate). Sixteen individuals were included in the study. Family and extended family members were found to play a crucial role in facilitating independent living and providing opportunities for recreational pursuits for those living in group homes. Members of religious organisations and group home staff provided the same types of opportunities where family support was absent. The findings highlighted the need for improvements in resource provision, staff training, and group home policy and building design.
Ageing and Society, 31(7), October 2011, pp.1107-1124.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
This article discusses an emerging model of intergenerational relationships that places oneself in the position of a person of a different age. It examines an experiential approach that draws on sociological thinking on generational consciousness and on the relationships between conflict, solidarity and ambivalence. The main emphasis is on the processes of generational experience, and a distinction is made between the informational knowledge that is available to social actors and the degree to which it is possible to act intelligently. The latter highlights the steps that would need to be taken to become critically aware of age as a factor in social relations, including the relative ability to recognise one's personal generational distinctiveness, acquiring understanding of the relationship between generations, critical awareness of the value stance being taken toward generational positions, and finally, acting in a manner that is generationally aware. The article concludes with a discussion of how generational relations can be encouraged. Implications for future research into intergenerational relationships is presented.
This article discusses an emerging model of intergenerational relationships that places oneself in the position of a person of a different age. It examines an experiential approach that draws on sociological thinking on generational consciousness and on the relationships between conflict, solidarity and ambivalence. The main emphasis is on the processes of generational experience, and a distinction is made between the informational knowledge that is available to social actors and the degree to which it is possible to act intelligently. The latter highlights the steps that would need to be taken to become critically aware of age as a factor in social relations, including the relative ability to recognise one's personal generational distinctiveness, acquiring understanding of the relationship between generations, critical awareness of the value stance being taken toward generational positions, and finally, acting in a manner that is generationally aware. The article concludes with a discussion of how generational relations can be encouraged. Implications for future research into intergenerational relationships is presented.