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The role of violated caregiver preferences in psychological well-being when older mothers need assistance
- Authors:
- SUITOR J. Jill, GILLIGAN Megan, PILLEMER Karl
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 53(3), 2013, pp.388-396.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article explores whether older mothers’ psychological well-being was affected by the children they preferred as future caregivers and provide assistance at a later point when the mothers experience illness or injury. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 234 older mothers at two points 7 years apart, beginning when the mothers were 65–75 years of age. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that mothers who received assistance from children whom the mothers did not identify as their preferred future caregivers reported higher depressive symptoms at the second wave; receiving care from children identified as preferred caregivers did not affect well-being. Qualitative data suggested that these patterns occurred because the “alternate” caregivers did not possess the socioemotional attributes of preferred children. The findings contribute to a growing body of research demonstrating the consequences of violated preferences, particularly when individuals are in need of support in later life. (Edited publisher abstract)
Making choices: a within-family study of caregiver selection
- Authors:
- PILLEMER Karl, SUITOR J. Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 46(4), August 2006, pp.439-448.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article reports on a within-family study to identify factors that lead mothers to expect that a particular child will serve in the role of primary caregiver. Data were collected by in-person interviews with a representative sample of 566 mothers between the ages of 65 and 75 years in the greater Boston area, who provided detailed information regarding all of their adult children. Both multivariate and qualitative data analyses were conducted. The results found that emotional closeness and similarity of gender and attitudes were strongly associated with which children mothers identified as probable caregivers. Findings regarding exchange were mixed. Mothers were more likely to name adult children who had provided them with support; however, mothers' past provision of assistance to children was unrelated to expectations regarding care. No aspects of children's availability besides proximity and employment of adult children affected mothers' expectations. In selecting a primary caregiver, mothers emphasized expressive characteristics of intergenerational relationships, rather than instrumental and contextual factors associated with children's availability. The findings indicated a discrepancy between maternal preference for care and actual patterns of support from adult children. Practitioners who work with older adults and their families should incorporate parents' views of the 'likely' caregiver into family counselling protocols. Family counselling in both the precaregiving and actual care provision stages may be useful to clarify expected roles for children.
A cooperative communication intervention for nursing home staff and family members of residents
- Authors:
- PILLEMER Karl, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 43(Special Issue II), April 2003, pp.96-106.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article reports on a randomised, controlled study of Partners in Caregiving, an intervention designed to increase cooperation and effective communication between family members and nursing home staff. Participants included 932 relatives and 655 staff members recruited from 20 nursing homes, randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Parallel training sessions on communication and conflict resolution techniques were conducted with the family and staff in the treatment group, followed by a joint meeting with facility administrators. Positive outcomes were found for both family and staff members in the treatment group. Both groups showed improved attitudes toward each other, families of residents with dementia reported less conflict with staff, and staff reported a lower likelihood of quitting. Multiple studies report significant interpersonal stress between family members of nursing home residents and facility staff members. Partners in Caregiving appears to be an effective way to improve family-staff relationships in nursing homes.
Integrating theory, basic research, and intervention: two case studies from caregiving research
- Authors:
- PILLEMER Karl, SUITOR Jill, WETHINGTON Elaine
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 43(Special Issue), March 2003, pp.19-28.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The premise of this article is that interventions should be based explicitly on theory and basic research findings. Although there appears to be general agreement with that assertion, the connections among theory, research, and intervention in the field of gerontology are often tenuous or nonexistent. In this article, we argue for better integration of these three domains, providing two case studies that illustrate the positive role theory and research can play in intervention designs and broader applicability of findings. Study 1 involved a social support intervention for persons making the transition to becoming a family caregiver. Study 2 was an organizational intervention designed to improve interpersonal relationships and increase mutual support between family caregivers and staff in nursing homes.