ABSTRACT
This article examines the extent to which low-income older women define themselves in stigmatizing terms, then explores the strategies they use to preserve a positive sense of self. Instead of considering themselves "old" or "poor," the sixty-two women interviewed defined themselves as "fortunate" and/or "blessed." The ability to see oneself as fortunate may be a significant component of successful aging.
Subject(s)
Aging/psychology , Gender Identity , Motivation , Poverty/psychology , Self Concept , Activities of Daily Living/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Black or African American/psychology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Internal-External Control , Middle Aged , Set, Psychology , Stereotyping , White People/psychologyABSTRACT
In response to a demographic imperative, many countries have established policies to increase family involvement in the care of their dependent elderly relatives. Reflecting fiscal constraints and cultural norms, these policies are often designed to place the burden of care on family rather than government. This article offers a survey and critique of three approaches to increasing family care of elderly people: filial support legislation, incentives for family caregivers, and service rationing provisions. Drawing in part on the results of a survey with respondents from 33 countries, it concludes that policies that require or encourage relatives to provide care may have adverse consequences for elderly people and their families. Human services advocates should support policies and interventions that provide universal access to a continuum of care alternatives that facilitate rational health care decision making by families and that empower and sustain family members who choose to care for elderly relatives.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/organization & administration , Family , Health Services for the Aged/legislation & jurisprudence , Social Welfare/economics , Aged , Health Care Rationing , Health Services for the Aged/economics , Humans , Intergenerational Relations , MotivationABSTRACT
Women typically report greater burden associated with caregiving than do men. We used data from interviews with 131 older spouse caregivers to explore potential explanations for this difference. A linear regression model explained 35% of the variance in caregiver burden. The patient's cognitive and behavioral difficulties emerged as the most important predictor of burden, followed by caregiver age, unpleasant social contacts, caregiver sex, and overall coping effectiveness. Findings suggest that age differences in male and female caregivers contribute to the observed differences in burden.
