Attitudes and beliefs of Spanish families regarding their family members aged 75 years and over who live alone: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the attitudes and beliefs of Spanish families regarding their elderly family members aged 75 years and over who live alone, with consideration of gender and educational differences among the family members. METHODS: This qualitative study was based on the critical social paradigm, the theory of constructivist structuralism and Bourdieu's theory of sociology of action. Four discussion groups were created with the following distribution of family members based on their gender and educational level: women with higher education, women with basic or secondary education, men with higher education and men with basic or secondary education. Participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. Announcements inviting voluntary participation were posted at primary health care facilities, social centres and neighbourhood associations in Mallorca, Spain. RESULTS: Analyses of the group discussions and a field journal revealed that families believe that elderly individuals prefer to live alone to retain their freedom and individual identities. CONCLUSIONS: Families held two main views regarding elderly individuals living alone: a more traditional one in which elderly care is considered a moral duty associated with women, and a more modern view in which elderly care is considered a personal option that can be delegated. Sociomedical resources were considered insufficient and not easily accessible.

Estrategias de cuidados de las familias con las personas mayores que viven solas / Care strategies of the families with elderly people living alone

Los cambios en el envejecimiento hacen una llamada a trasformar los cuidados dirigidos a las personas mayores que viven solas. Objetivo: Conocer la percepción de la familia sobre el cuidado a los mayores que viven solos. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo mediante análisis de discurso a partir del referencial crítico social y los conceptos de la teoría de Bourdieu. Se realizaron 4 grupos de discusión agrupando a los participantes por género y nivel de instrucción. Resultados: los participantes consideran que la red sociofamiliar puede actuar sobre la discapacidad. Preocupa la manera en la que la persona mayor cubre sus necesidades. Destacan como fundamental el apoyo en la realización de los cuidados. Comparten la idea de que las mujeres mayores se adaptan mejor que los hombres a vivir en soledad. Las mujeres cuidadoras tienden a intervenir precozmente ante los problemas. Los hombres esperan y si pueden delegan. Conclusión: la familia cuestiona los beneficios de la convivencia. La orientación profesional en el cuidado es escasa. Los servicios sociales deben mejorar su accesibilidad (AU)

Changes in the aging make a call to transform the managed care for the elderly living alone. Objective: To know the perception of the family on care to seniors who live alone. Methodology: Qualitative study using analysis of referential discourse from social critic and concepts of the theory of Bourdieu. There were four discussion groups grouping the participants by gender and educational level. Results: The participants consider that the social and family network may act on disability. Concerned about the way in which the older person meets your needs. Stand out as key support in the delivery of care. Share the idea that older women are better suited than men to live in solitude. Women caregivers tend to intervene early with problems. Men expect and if they can delegate. Conclusion: The family questions the benefits of coexistence. Vocational guidance in the care is scarce. Social services should improve their accessibility (AU)