The misunderstood caregiver? A qualitative study of the male caregiver of Alzheimer's disease victims.
In-depth interviews with 15 male caregivers from diverse backgrounds caring for their wives with Alzheimer's disease revealed the following common themes: commitment, social isolation, the loss of companionship, control, sense of accomplishment, a problem-solving approach, burden lessening with years of caregiving, and limited expectations of children. A generated typology of male caregivers included four types: the worker, the labor of love, the sense of duty, and at the crossroads.
Department of Sociology, John Carroll University, Cleveland, OH 44118.
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Harris
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D012380:Role; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires