title: End-of-life caregiving: challenges faced by older adult women.
abstract: In the United States, the number of people older than 60 is expected to triple over the next 50 years, and as the population ages so do family caregivers. Increased levels of depression and low ratings of subjective well-being in caregivers are consistently associated with older age, the spousal relationship, and female caregiver gender. Less well known is the effect care delivery models have on the older adult as his or her spouse approaches the end of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges faced by older adult spousal caregivers providing end-of-life care across different life-limiting illness trajectories in distinctive care delivery models. An instrumental case study using purposive sampling identified the following themes for older spousal caregivers: balancing multiple morbidities; feeling overwhelmed and exhausted; dealing with personal health issues; feeling isolated; and coordinating care. Implications for health care providers are also examined.
authors: School of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. gem18@psu.edu
authors: Gwen
authors: G
authors: McGhan
authors: Susan J
authors: SJ
authors: Loeb
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Baney
authors: Janice
authors: J
authors: Penrod
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013727:Terminal Care; D014481:United States
references: CMAJ. 2004 Jun 8;170(12):1811-2
references: 15184336
references: Chronic Illn. 2010 Mar;6(1):67-80
references: 20308352
references: J Gerontol Nurs. 2011 Jan;37(1):30-5
references: 20669857
references: Psychol Aging. 2010 Mar;25(1):108-17
references: 20230132
references: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2004 May-Jun;12(3):240-9
references: 15126224
references: JAMA. 1999 Dec 15;282(23):2215-9
references: 10605972
references: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Dec;58(12):2315-22
references: 21087225
references: Am J Nurs. 2008 Sep;108(9 Suppl):23-7; quiz 27
references: 18797217
references: Ann Behav Med. 1997 Spring;19(2):110-6
references: 9603685
references: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 Apr;63(4):399-407
references: 18426964
references: Qual Life Res. 2008 Mar;17(2):267-73
references: 18157616
references: Public Health Nurs. 2004 Nov-Dec;21(6):533-40
references: 15566558
references: Res Nurs Health. 2007 Jun;30(3):270-81
references: 17514724
references: Cancer Nurs. 2008 Jan-Feb;31(1):77-85
references: 18176135
references: Pain Med. 2011 Jan;12(1):51-8
references: 21143758
references: J Nutr Health Aging. 2010 Jun;14(6):442-8
references: 20617286
references: Palliat Med. 2010 Oct;24(7):656-68
references: 20605852
references: Am J Crit Care. 2009 Mar;18(2):149-59
references: 19255105
references: ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2012 Jan-Mar;35(1):64-76
references: 22293611
references: West J Nurs Res. 2012 Mar;34(2):174-93
references: 21403056
references: J Adv Nurs. 2007 Mar;57(6):658-67
references: 17346325
references: Palliat Med. 2007 Jun;21(4):313-22
references: 17656408
references: Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2005 Dec;28(4):1007-38, x
references: 16325738
references: Psychol Aging. 2009 Sep;24(3):681-95
references: 19739924
references: J Gerontol Nurs. 2007 Sep;33(9):37-45
references: 17899999
references: Gerontologist. 2003 Apr;43(2):230-41
references: 12677080
references: Clin Nurs Res. 2011 Feb;20(1):7-24
references: 20876553
references: N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb 16;354(7):719-30
references: 16481639
references: Psychol Aging. 2011 Mar;26(1):1-14
references: 21417538
references: Semin Oncol Nurs. 2010 Nov;26(4):243-58
references: 20971405
references: Image J Nurs Sch. 1994 Summer;26(2):119-27
references: 8063317