I never planned for it”—Exploration of expectations about caring for older parents

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6452085
AutoresChiara De Poli (0000-0002-1879-553X, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy London School of Economics and Political Science London UK, autor correspondente), Raphael Wittenberg (0000-0003-3096-2721, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy London School of Economics and Political Science London UK), Amritpal Rehill (0000-0003-3826-2711, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy London School of Economics and Political Science London UK), Madeleine Stevens (0000-0003-3540-3494, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy London School of Economics and Political Science London UK), Nicola Brimblecombe (0000-0002-6147-5726, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy London School of Economics and Political Science London UK)
Ano2024
Volume59
Fascículo1
Páginas37-56
Data de publicação2024-04-22
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSocial Policy and Administration (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0144-5596 • E-ISSN: 1467-9515
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/spol.13030
OpenAlexW4395004967
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas46

The projected increase in older dependent adults will continue straining formal care services whilst increasing the reliance on unpaid carers, in England and internationally. While motivations and willingness to care among unpaid carers have been explored, expectations around the caregiving role remain under‐researched. This article delves into expectations of middle‐aged individuals around providing care to an older parent in the future. Data collected through six focus groups with 35 mid‐life individuals, a mix of individuals with and without caring experience, were analysed thematically, cross‐sectionally, and with reference to different phases in the caregiving trajectory. Participants showed predicted, in some cases normative, expectations about taking on the role of carer for an older parent. Such expectations were rooted in emotional and socio‐cultural factors and influenced how people self‐identified as a carer. Expectations about what the role would entail were unformed: they were described as conditional on the uncertain and changing care needs of the older parents (‘caregiving creep’). Those with caring experience highlighted that, in hindsight, their prior expectations did not match their actual experience of the role, requiring greater time commitment and impacting their life in ways they had not anticipated. When thinking about the future, participants envisaged stepped changes in care arrangements to meet increasing, albeit uncertain, care needs, but acknowledged their lack of awareness around the care options available to them. Policies aiming to improve general awareness about caregiving, support early identification of carers, and address their information need throughout their caregiving journey should be a priority

Developmental psychology · Family and Disability Support Research · Family Support in Illness · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology