The Experiences of Older Individuals Providing Care to Older Dependents: A Phenomenological Study in Spain

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2021 Aug 5

PMID 34351991

Authors

M Alcaniz-Garran

S Garcia-Sanjuan

J D Ramos-Pichardo

A Sanjuan-Quiles

R Montejano-Lozoya

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Non-professional care provided in domestic settings by a family member or someone from the close environment and without a connection to a professional care service, is increasingly assumed by older people, mainly the spouses of those requiring care. The aim of this study was to describe the experience of older people providing care at home to older dependents.

Methods: A qualitative study was carried out to describe and explore the experience of older people, caregivers of dependent older people in the home.

Results: Four themes emerged as a result of the analysis: interpersonal relationships established in the caregivers' immediate environment; the need and request for public and private resources; consequences of providing care during old age; and adaptation to the circumstance of being a caregiver during old age. Older people who provide home-based care, experience their situation as stressful, feel that it limits their daily life, deprives them of their freedom, and affects their interpersonal relationships and social activities.

Discussion: Older caregivers learn quickly and can manage the skills issues. The volume of work is their challenge. Interpersonal relationships are altered depending on the length of time spent together and the demand for care. Public services and benefits are not adapted to the demands of caregivers or dependent persons.

Citing Articles

Examining the matching of care preferences and care modalities for older dependents, and its association with satisfaction and wellbeing.

Julia A, Gallo P, Mari-Klose M, Escapa S BMC Geriatr. 2025; 25(1):119.

PMID: 39984852 PMC: 11843766. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-025-05749-4.

References

Chen M, Kao C, Chiu Y, Lin T, Tsai Y, Jian Y . Effects of home-based long-term care services on caregiver health according to age. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2017; 15(1):208. PMC: 5651602. DOI: 10.1186/s12955-017-0786-6. View

Garcia-Calvente M, Hidalgo-Ruzzante N, Del Rio-Lozano M, Marcos-Marcos J, Martinez-Morante E, Maroto-Navarro G . Exhausted women, tough men: a qualitative study on gender differences in health, vulnerability and coping with illness in Spain. Sociol Health Illn. 2012; 34(6):911-26. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9566.2011.01440.x. View

Litzelman K, Kent E, Mollica M, Rowland J . How Does Caregiver Well-Being Relate to Perceived Quality of Care in Patients With Cancer? Exploring Associations and Pathways. J Clin Oncol. 2016; 34(29):3554-3561. PMC: 5074348. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2016.67.3434. View

Langner L, Furstenberg F . Gender Differences in Spousal Caregivers' Care and Housework: Fact or Fiction?. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2018; 75(1):173-183. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gby087. View

Perez-Rojo G, Izal M, Montorio I, Regato P, Espinosa J . [Prevalence of elder abuse in Spanish dwelling in community]. Med Clin (Barc). 2013; 141(12):522-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2012.09.048. View

Milligan C, Morbey H . Care, coping and identity: Older men's experiences of spousal care-giving. J Aging Stud. 2016; 38:105-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2016.05.002. View

Riffin C, Van Ness P, Wolff J, Fried T . Family and Other Unpaid Caregivers and Older Adults with and without Dementia and Disability. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017; 65(8):1821-1828. PMC: 5555780. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14910. View

Broese van Groenou M, de Boer A . Providing informal care in a changing society. Eur J Ageing. 2016; 13:271-279. PMC: 4992501. DOI: 10.1007/s10433-016-0370-7. View

Zueras P, Spijker J, Blanes A . [The changing profile of caregivers of persons aged 65 years and over with disabilities within a persisting family care model]. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2017; 53(2):66-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.regg.2017.07.004. View

10.

Goldzweig G, Baider L, Andritsch E, Pfeffer R, Rottenberg Y . A Dialogue of Depression and Hope: Elderly Patients Diagnosed with Cancer and Their Spousal Caregivers. J Cancer Educ. 2016; 32(3):549-555. DOI: 10.1007/s13187-015-0975-0. View

11.

Plothner M, Schmidt K, de Jong L, Zeidler J, Damm K . Needs and preferences of informal caregivers regarding outpatient care for the elderly: a systematic literature review. BMC Geriatr. 2019; 19(1):82. PMC: 6417014. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-019-1068-4. View

12.

Bierhals C, Santos N, Fengler F, Raubustt K, Forbes D, Paskulin L . Needs of family caregivers in home care for older adults. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2017; 25:e2870. PMC: 5396486. DOI: 10.1590/1518-8345.1511.2870. View

13.

Calvo-Perxas L, Vilalta-Franch J, Litwin H, Turro-Garriga O, Mira P, Garre-Olmo J . What seems to matter in public policy and the health of informal caregivers? A cross-sectional study in 12 European countries. PLoS One. 2018; 13(3):e0194232. PMC: 5843287. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194232. View

14.

Dalmer N . A logic of choice: Problematizing the documentary reality of Canadian aging in place policies. J Aging Stud. 2019; 48:40-49. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2019.01.002. View

15.

Neri A, Yassuda M, Fortes-Burgos A, Mantovani E, Arbex F, de Souza Torres S . Relationships between gender, age, family conditions, physical and mental health, and social isolation of elderly caregivers. Int Psychogeriatr. 2011; 24(3):472-83. DOI: 10.1017/S1041610211001700. View

16.

Prevo L, Hajema K, Linssen E, Kremers S, Crutzen R, Schneider F . Population Characteristics and Needs of Informal Caregivers Associated With the Risk of Perceiving a High Burden: A Cross-Sectional Study. Inquiry. 2018; 55:46958018775570. PMC: 5977419. DOI: 10.1177/0046958018775570. View

17.

Gonzalez N, Bilbao A, Forjaz M, Ayala A, Orive M, Garcia-Gutierrez S . Psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of the Barthel Index. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2017; 30(5):489-497. DOI: 10.1007/s40520-017-0809-5. View

18.

Martin-Carrasco M, Otermin P, Perez-Camo V, Pujol J, Aguera L, Martin M . EDUCA study: Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. Aging Ment Health. 2010; 14(6):705-11. DOI: 10.1080/13607860903586094. View

19.

Giorgi A . Concerning the application of phenomenology to caring research. Scand J Caring Sci. 2002; 14(1):11-5. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2000.tb00555.x. View

20.

Luchesi B, Souza E, Martins Gratao A, Gomes G, Inouye K, Alexandre T . The evaluation of perceived stress and associated factors in elderly caregivers. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2016; 67:7-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2016.06.017. View