Publication
Title
Understanding the experience of adult daughters caring for an ageing parent, a qualitative study
Author
Abstract
Aims and objectivesThe objective of this study is to describe how adult daughters experience caring for a frail older parent at home. BackgroundIn the near future the ageing of the population will have a major impact on the demand for formal and informal long-term care. Relatives, especially spouses and adult children are the main providers of informal care. DesignQualitative research methodology was used to study the experience of adult daughters caring for their frail older parents. A phenomenological research perspective was used to better understand the daily experiences of caring for an ageing parent. MethodsData were collected using open-ended interviews. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were subject to thematic analysis. ResultsEleven women between 40-70years of age participated in this study. Inductive coding of the interview data led to four main themes: being a caregiver as a natural process in life, the perception and consequences of caregiving activities, sharing care and finding a good balance between caring for an ageing parent and other responsibilities. Caregiving activities could be divided into visible and invisible activities and generated different feelings. The visible activities were more easily shared with other family members and professionals than the invisible ones. The women who struggled the most and tended to have a higher level of burden were those who experienced less support from their family. ConclusionsThis study provided more insight into the experiences women have when caring for a parent. Supporting family networks that help in both visible and invisible activities may prevent overburden. Relevance to clinical practiceConsumer-led care and the active participation of the informal caregiver in the decision-making process for building the care plan need to become more prominent.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of clinical nursing. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2016
ISSN
0962-1067
DOI
10.1111/JOCN.13195
Volume/pages
25 :11-12 (2016) , p. 1693-1702
ISI
000375866200021
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 28.04.2016
Last edited 09.10.2023
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