title: Adapters, strugglers, and case managers: a typology of spouse caregivers.
abstract: Although family home care problems are frequently described in the health care literature, the ways in which families and other informal caregivers manage those problems are not often addressed. We conducted a descriptive analysis of interviews in which spouses caring for a partner with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease were asked to describe difficult home care problems and how they managed those problems. Analysis of these interviews indicated three recurring management styles. Adapters told stories about applying pre-existing skills to manage home care problems. Strugglers told stories of reoccurring home care problems for which they had few or no management strategies. Case managers' interview stories focused on the challenges of finding and coordinating home care services. These findings suggest that caregiving burden might be influenced more by the caregiver's management style than the demands of the care situation. Suggestions for tailoring support programs for the three types of caregivers are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA davis317@mc.duke.edu.
authors.forename: Linda Lindsey
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chestnutt
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Margory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.affiliation: Connecticut Community Care, Inc., Bristol, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Tess
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deshefy-Longhi
authors.affiliation: Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Bomin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gilliss
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D019090:Case Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011340:Problem Solving; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; caregivers; families, caregiving; relationships