See the published version of this preprint at BMC Geriatrics.
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Research article
Akram Khayatzadeh-Mahani
School of Public Policy, University of Calgary
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3297-7660
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
As global populations age, governments have come to rely heavily on family carers (FCs) to care for older adults and reduce the demands made of formal health and social care systems. Under increasing pressure, FCs’ resilience and the sustainability of their unpaid care work have become pressing issues. This paper explores FCs’ care-related work goals and how those goals do, or do not, link to technology.
Methods
We employed a sequential mixed-method approach using focus groups followed by an online survey about FCs’ goals. We held 10 focus groups and recruited 25 FCs through a mix of convenience and snowball sampling strategies. Carer organizations helped recruit 599 FCs from across Canada to complete an online survey. Participants’ responses to an open-ended question in the survey were included in our qualitative analysis. An inductive approach was employed using qualitative thematic content analysis methods to examine and interpret the resulting data. We used NVIVO 12 software for data analysis.
Results
We identified two care quality improvement goals of FCs providing care to older adults: enhancing and safeguarding their caregiving capacity. To enhance their capacity to care, FCs sought: 1) foreknowledge about their care recipients’ changing condition, and 2) improved navigation of existing support systems. To safeguard their own wellbeing, and so to preserve their capacity to care, FCs sought to develop coping strategies as well as opportunities for mentorship and socialization.
Conclusions
We conclude that a paradigm shift is needed to reframe caregiving from a current deficit frame focused on limitations (burden of care) towards a more empowering frame (sustainability and resiliency). The fact that FCs are seeking strategies to enhance and safeguard their capacities to provide care means they are approaching their unpaid care work from the perspective of resilience. Their goals and technology suggestions imply a shift from understanding care as a source of ‘burden’ towards a more ‘resilient’ and ‘sustainable’ model of caregiving. Our case study findings show that technology can assist in fostering this resiliency but that it may well be limited to the role of an intermediary that connects FCs to information, supports and peers.
Keywords
Family caregivers (FCs), elderly, aging population, sustainability, resilience, quality of care, technology
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
No community comments so far
Review #3 received
Received 23 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 14 Jan, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 09 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 15 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 12 Dec, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 12 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 01 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 31 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 31 Oct, 2019
Version 1
Posted 03 Jul, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 21 Sep, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 16 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 20 Aug, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 13 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 04 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Jul, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 01 Jul, 2019
Editor assigned
On 20 Jun, 2019
Editor invited
On 19 Jun, 2019
First submitted
On 18 Jun, 2019
Metrics
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PDF Downloads: ...
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Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at BMC Geriatrics.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Akram Khayatzadeh-Mahani
School of Public Policy, University of Calgary
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3297-7660
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
No community comments so far
Review #3 received
Received 23 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 14 Jan, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 09 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Dec, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 15 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 12 Dec, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 12 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 01 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 31 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 31 Oct, 2019
Version 1
Posted 03 Jul, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 21 Sep, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 16 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 20 Aug, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 13 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 04 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Jul, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 01 Jul, 2019
Editor assigned
On 20 Jun, 2019
Editor invited
On 19 Jun, 2019
First submitted
On 18 Jun, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
Background
As global populations age, governments have come to rely heavily on family carers (FCs) to care for older adults and reduce the demands made of formal health and social care systems. Under increasing pressure, FCs’ resilience and the sustainability of their unpaid care work have become pressing issues. This paper explores FCs’ care-related work goals and how those goals do, or do not, link to technology.
Methods
We employed a sequential mixed-method approach using focus groups followed by an online survey about FCs’ goals. We held 10 focus groups and recruited 25 FCs through a mix of convenience and snowball sampling strategies. Carer organizations helped recruit 599 FCs from across Canada to complete an online survey. Participants’ responses to an open-ended question in the survey were included in our qualitative analysis. An inductive approach was employed using qualitative thematic content analysis methods to examine and interpret the resulting data. We used NVIVO 12 software for data analysis.
Results
We identified two care quality improvement goals of FCs providing care to older adults: enhancing and safeguarding their caregiving capacity. To enhance their capacity to care, FCs sought: 1) foreknowledge about their care recipients’ changing condition, and 2) improved navigation of existing support systems. To safeguard their own wellbeing, and so to preserve their capacity to care, FCs sought to develop coping strategies as well as opportunities for mentorship and socialization.
Conclusions
We conclude that a paradigm shift is needed to reframe caregiving from a current deficit frame focused on limitations (burden of care) towards a more empowering frame (sustainability and resiliency). The fact that FCs are seeking strategies to enhance and safeguard their capacities to provide care means they are approaching their unpaid care work from the perspective of resilience. Their goals and technology suggestions imply a shift from understanding care as a source of ‘burden’ towards a more ‘resilient’ and ‘sustainable’ model of caregiving. Our case study findings show that technology can assist in fostering this resiliency but that it may well be limited to the role of an intermediary that connects FCs to information, supports and peers.
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