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Expectations of care within marriage for older couples
Author(s) -
Cash Belinda,
Warburton Jeni,
Hodgkin Suzanne
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12590
Subject(s) - normative , context (archaeology) , psychology , diversity (politics) , qualitative research , quality of life (healthcare) , social psychology , gerontology , medicine , sociology , political science , paleontology , social science , anthropology , law , psychotherapist , biology
Objectives This study explores the intersection of marriage and caregiving amongst older spousal caregivers in regional Australia. Specifically, we address the research question: ‘How do expectations of informal care impact spousal caregivers in later life?’ Methods These comprise interpretive qualitative in‐depth interviews in order to understand the lived experience of caregiving within the context of long‐term marriage. Results Findings highlight the complexity and diversity of marital relationships as the context of informal care. Individual and social obligations were evident in key themes, demonstrating how spouses automatically assume and continue in caregiver roles in later life. Conclusion Caregiving is an expectation of couples in long‐term marriages, regardless of the relationship quality and willingness to care. Normative expectations also impact decision‐making around future care planning and transitions away from home‐based care. These are important considerations for both policy and practice with older adults and their caregivers.