The lived experience of informal African American male caregivers.
Informal caregivers play a major role in providing care to loved ones within the home and demands for dependent care are likely to increase. Informal caregivers are likely to continue to be responsible for the majority of care for loved ones living well into late stages of life. This article describes the lived experience of African American men providing care to a relative within the home and explores their definition of caregiver distress. The phenomenological study was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 10 Christian African American men. Demographic data about the caregiver and the care recipient were collected. Common themes included: commitment, support (family support and formal health-related support), spirituality, and caregiver burden (stress, time strain and financial strain). Implications include the need for health care providers to expand their knowledge related to the diversity of caregivers and to use culturally relevant comprehensive assessments of caregivers and recipients, discharge planning tools, and community resources.
Weinland
Jo Ann
JA
Nursing Faculty, Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences, 2600 Sixth Street WS, Canton, OH 44710, USA. weinlandj@yahoo.com
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005783:Gender Identity; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States