title: African American women: a life course of care?
abstract: Twenty-five years of research on family care to dependent elders has produced a theoretically sophisticated understanding of the process of family caregiving. Although caregiving models initially were developed and tested on predominantly White samples, more recent work has applied these models to African American caregivers. This investigation builds on the comparative perspective by describing elder care in African American families through the eyes of the culture in which it occurs. Thirty-two African American caregivers were interviewed and asked to discuss their caregiving careers from a life course perspective. Qualitative narratives described three pathways to care: elder care only, limited life course of care, and live course of care. Recognition of the various pathways to care will enlighten tailored interventions.
authors.affiliation: Central Michigan University, 208 Wightman Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: MaloneBeach
authors.forename: Reid L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Skeel
authors.forename: Joseph N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Inungu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012144:Respite Care / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health