Always Caring
The Gendered Realities of Spousal Home Care for Older Adults in the Community
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13024418 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kelly Glubb-Smith (0000-0001-7363-2621, University of Waikato, corresponding author), Molly W Crawford (University of Waikato), Patricia Hanlen (Tauranga Hospital) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 56-56 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-11 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Societies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2075-4698 • E-ISSN: 2075-4698 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/soc16020056 |
| OpenAlex | W7128595734 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 44 |
The choice to age in a familiar home environment within the community without relying on residential services can prolong independence, provided care services are customised to the specific needs of the household. However, this model of care provision frequently conceals the hidden costs for women who are often the spousal carer. The navigation of care needs of a spouse when aged 65 and above often contains challenges linked to accessing quality community care and respite. These challenges are further compounded by the impact of personal health realities that come with ageing. To explore the support needs of older adults choosing to remain in their own homes, qualitative semi-structured interviews took place with 26 individuals aged 65 plus. This article concentrates on a specific subset of research using constructivist grounded theory to examine the caregiving realities of six women and one man. A significant finding was that these predominantly female carers often felt unsupported, fatigued, and time-poor, largely attributable to the scale of care needed. Formal care support was particularly valued when it prioritised relationships over task-oriented care. A key recommendation to enable couples to remain living at home and avoid residential care is that more support for spousal (informal) carers is required
Aging in place · Constructivist grounded theory · Grounded theory · Health care · Qualitative research · Quality of life (healthcare · Scale (ratio · Spouse · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies
The Impact of Informal Caregiving for Older Adults on the Health of Various Types of Caregivers
Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age
The hidden, human costs of the UK’s failing ‘market’ for home care
Extending “Continuity of Care” to include the Contribution of Family Carers
The Influence of Ethnicity and Gender on Caregiver Health in Older New Zealanders
Informal caregivers’ experiences of formal support in a changing context
Ageing in place in a rural town in Aotearoa New Zealand
Older adults’ experiences of home maintenance issues and opportunities to maintain ageing in place
Older people as co-researchers
The Sustainable Development Goals and Aging
The Meaning of "Aging in Place" to Older People
With Constructivist Grounded Theory You Can't Hide
| Highly cited | No |
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