title: Toward a social ecology of the home-care household.
abstract: I examined the relation between household parameters of size, composition, and temporal variability and indicators of care-giver and elder well-being. Two discrete groups of 20 care-giver-elder pairs were included in the study: (a) a group in which elders were moderately to severely cognitively impaired, but physically well, and (b) a group in which elders were moderately to severely physically disabled, but cognitively unimpaired. Care givers and elders were interviewed and assessed in their homes, and the care giver completed a 3-day log of home-care activities. Results indicated that care-giver and elder well-being are related to opposite values of the same household parameters in the two groups. The study demonstrates the utility of a social-ecological framework for research on home care, and suggests that the degree of fit of any particular household arrangement is relative to the competence-disability profile of the elder in care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Individual and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Birkel
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010556:Personality Tests; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment