“ “ I am now separated, I am now separated, which has hurt my kids; which has hurt my kids; in return it hurts me to in return it hurts me to see them sad. I also see them sad. I also spend more time with spend more time with my mother, she’s in the my mother, she’s in the final stages of final stages of emphysema - that has emphysema - that has also taken its toll on also taken its toll on me. This is why I am so me. This is why I am so late getting this back to late getting this back to you. I work, take care you. I work, take care of my mother, and my of my mother, and my youngest is 4 years old.” youngest is 4 years old.”
Transcript
““I am now separated, which I am now separated, which has hurt my kids; in return has hurt my kids; in return it hurts me to see them it hurts me to see them sad. I also spend more sad. I also spend more time with my mother, time with my mother, she’s in the final stages of she’s in the final stages of emphysema - that has also emphysema - that has also taken its toll on me. This taken its toll on me. This is why I am so late getting is why I am so late getting this back to you. I work, this back to you. I work, take care of my mother, take care of my mother, and my youngest is 4 and my youngest is 4 years old.”years old.”
WHY do family WHY do family caregivers provide caregivers provide care?care?
WHAT are the WHAT are the rewards, benefits, rewards, benefits, opportunities of opportunities of caregiving?caregiving?
Opportunities/Benefits Opportunities/Benefits of Caregivingof Caregiving
Very few studies on the positive aspects of Very few studies on the positive aspects of caregivingcaregiving
Benefits or “gain” = any positive affective or Benefits or “gain” = any positive affective or practical return experienced as a result of practical return experienced as a result of becoming a caregiver (Kramer, 1997)becoming a caregiver (Kramer, 1997)
Reasons identified in the limited Reasons identified in the limited
existing literatureexisting literature (e.g., Bowers et al., (e.g., Bowers et al., 2001; Brody, 1981; Pinquart & Soerensen, 2001; Brody, 1981; Pinquart & Soerensen,
2003)2003) comprise four domains: comprise four domains:
Altruism, Exchange, Need, Altruism, Exchange, Need,
AffectionAffection
Examples of BenefitsExamples of BenefitsAltruistic motivesAltruistic motives ““It’s the right thing to do”It’s the right thing to do”
““It’s consistent with my moral/ethical principles”It’s consistent with my moral/ethical principles” ““I feel responsible”I feel responsible” (“I help because of my religious beliefs”)(“I help because of my religious beliefs”)
Exchange motivesExchange motives ““I gain knowledge I can use later”I gain knowledge I can use later” ““I gain skills I can use elsewhere” I gain skills I can use elsewhere” (“The elder also provides some help to me”)(“The elder also provides some help to me”) (“I will eventually benefit financially”)(“I will eventually benefit financially”) (“We share living expenses”)(“We share living expenses”) (“I receive some monetary compensation”)(“I receive some monetary compensation”)
NeedNeed ““There’s nobody else who can do it”There’s nobody else who can do it” ““The elder won’t ask for or accept help The elder won’t ask for or accept help
from anyone else”from anyone else”
Affective ReasonsAffective Reasons ““I appreciate being close to the elder”I appreciate being close to the elder” ““It makes me feel good about myself”It makes me feel good about myself” ““It enables me to appreciate life more”It enables me to appreciate life more” “ “It makes me feel useful/needed” It makes me feel useful/needed” ““I want to give something back to this person”I want to give something back to this person”
In sum, In sum, mmany any caregivers find caregivers find that there are both that there are both stresses and stresses and rewards associated rewards associated with caregivingwith caregiving
A Few Selected A Few Selected Findings from our Findings from our
national study funded national study funded by the Alfred P. Sloan by the Alfred P. Sloan
FoundationFoundation
Neal, M. B., & Hammer, L. B. (2007). Neal, M. B., & Hammer, L. B. (2007). Working couples caring for children and aging Working couples caring for children and aging parents: Effects on Work and Well-Being. parents: Effects on Work and Well-Being. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.Associates, Inc.
An Example: Outcomes and An Example: Outcomes and Effective Coping StrategiesEffective Coping Strategies
As revealed in a national study funded by the As revealed in a national study funded by the
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation:Alfred P. Sloan Foundation:
Neal, M. B., & Hammer, L. B. (2007). Neal, M. B., & Hammer, L. B. (2007). Working couples caring for children and aging Working couples caring for children and aging
parents: Effects on work and well-being. parents: Effects on work and well-being. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Key Findings: OutcomesKey Findings: Outcomes
For both wives and husbands: For both wives and husbands: • Work interfered with family to a greater extent than family Work interfered with family to a greater extent than family
interfered with work interfered with work • Higher levels of clinical depression than the general Higher levels of clinical depression than the general
populationpopulation• Higher levels of positive work-family spillover than work-Higher levels of positive work-family spillover than work-
family conflictfamily conflict
Wives had higher levels of absence from work than husbands Wives had higher levels of absence from work than husbands each month due to family careeach month due to family care
Wives had higher levels of depression than husbandsWives had higher levels of depression than husbands
Key Findings: BenefitsKey Findings: Benefits
Caregivers also Caregivers also receivedreceived help from their aging parent(s) help from their aging parent(s) (e.g., financial, emotional, child care, household assistance)(e.g., financial, emotional, child care, household assistance)
Receiving help from aging parents was associated with:Receiving help from aging parents was associated with: greater relationship quality with the aging parentgreater relationship quality with the aging parent greater self-ratings of performance as a caregiver greater self-ratings of performance as a caregiver
Positive spillover:Positive spillover: was related to lower depression was related to lower depression ““crossed over” leading to decrease in spouse’s depression crossed over” leading to decrease in spouse’s depression
over the year (Hammer, Cullen et al., 2005)over the year (Hammer, Cullen et al., 2005)
Key Findings: Relative EffectsKey Findings: Relative Effectsof Role Characteristicsof Role Characteristics
Subjective role characteristics (spousal, child care, parent care, Subjective role characteristics (spousal, child care, parent care, and job role quality) more important than objective and job role quality) more important than objective characteristics (e.g., # cared for, # hours) in predicting characteristics (e.g., # cared for, # hours) in predicting outcomesoutcomes
Spousal role quality (rewards outweighed stressors) was especially Spousal role quality (rewards outweighed stressors) was especially importantimportant
Objective characteristics did predict some outcomesObjective characteristics did predict some outcomes
Working more hours resulted in :Working more hours resulted in : Increased work-to-family conflict for bothIncreased work-to-family conflict for both Poorer work performance for menPoorer work performance for men
3 primary types of strategies were used: 3 primary types of strategies were used:
Increasing emotional resourcesIncreasing emotional resources - e.g., getting moral support and comfort from others, - e.g., getting moral support and comfort from others,
trying to find humor in the situation trying to find humor in the situation
Increasing prioritizingIncreasing prioritizing - e.g., protecting or setting aside time for important - e.g., protecting or setting aside time for important
activities, not losing track of what’s important activities, not losing track of what’s important
Decreasing social involvementDecreasing social involvement – – e.g., limiting social activities, spending less time with e.g., limiting social activities, spending less time with
spouse/partner, spending less time with other family membersspouse/partner, spending less time with other family members
What Worked and What Didn’tWhat Worked and What Didn’t
PositivePositive outcomes were outcomes were associated withassociated with
NegativeNegative outcomes were associated outcomes were associated with with
decreasing social involvementdecreasing social involvement
Men and women used different strategies:Men and women used different strategies: More wives than husbands decreased social More wives than husbands decreased social
involvementinvolvement More husbands than wives increased prioritizing More husbands than wives increased prioritizing
The benefits of increasing emotional resources The benefits of increasing emotional resources “crossed over” and extended to the spouse“crossed over” and extended to the spouse
The use of coping strategies had greater effects on The use of coping strategies had greater effects on work-family fit and well-being than on work work-family fit and well-being than on work outcomesoutcomes
What Caregivers Can Do…What Caregivers Can Do…
Working Caregivers Can:Working Caregivers Can:
Use effective coping strategiesUse effective coping strategies
Increase emotional resourcesIncrease emotional resources Take care of self and marital relationshipTake care of self and marital relationship Seek emotional support from family, friends, Seek emotional support from family, friends,
coworkers, supervisors, maybe a formal support group coworkers, supervisors, maybe a formal support group for caregiversfor caregivers
A sense of humor and spiritual beliefs may ease stressA sense of humor and spiritual beliefs may ease stress Increase cognitive resourcesIncrease cognitive resources
Create a schedule and set prioritiesCreate a schedule and set priorities Be prepared for unexpected events, emergenciesBe prepared for unexpected events, emergencies Plan time for own needs tooPlan time for own needs too Prioritize tasks – stop certain activities, reduce Prioritize tasks – stop certain activities, reduce
expectations to be in lineexpectations to be in line
Working caregivers can… (cont.)Working caregivers can… (cont.)
AVOID social withdrawal – DO maintain social AVOID social withdrawal – DO maintain social relationships with friends relationships with friends
DO take care of their marital relationship DO take care of their marital relationship
Ask for/get help with caregiving tasks from family Ask for/get help with caregiving tasks from family members, othersmembers, others
Use available supports at work and in the communityUse available supports at work and in the community
Make use of available technology (e.g., cell phones, Make use of available technology (e.g., cell phones,
internet)internet)
Make Use of Aging/Family ServicesMake Use of Aging/Family Services
Get help with: Get help with: Finding services/supports for the aging parentFinding services/supports for the aging parent Developing practical caregiving skills Developing practical caregiving skills Finding ways to enhance the quality of Finding ways to enhance the quality of
relationships with one’s spouse, children, eldersrelationships with one’s spouse, children, elders Identifying ways aging parents may help or Identifying ways aging parents may help or
reciprocatereciprocate
Request information re: caregiving resources Request information re: caregiving resources for employersfor employers
Advocate for ChangeAdvocate for Change
The U.S. government lags far behind other The U.S. government lags far behind other countries in providing public support for countries in providing public support for family care, including paid family leave family care, including paid family leave
- CaregiversCaregivers may wish to advocate for paid may wish to advocate for paid family leavefamily leave
- Policy makersPolicy makers can identify ways to make can identify ways to make this feasiblethis feasible
What Employers/Managers Can DoWhat Employers/Managers Can Do
Train managers to be sensitive of employee’s Train managers to be sensitive of employee’s work-family issueswork-family issues
Minimize long work hours for employeesMinimize long work hours for employees Increase flexibility (work schedule and place of Increase flexibility (work schedule and place of
work) work) Advertise/support use of available workplace Advertise/support use of available workplace
supportssupports
A Few ResourcesA Few Resources
The Family Caregiver Alliance at The Family Caregiver Alliance at www.caregiver.org - state-to- - state-to-state information for caregivers, caregiving advice, fact sheetsstate information for caregivers, caregiving advice, fact sheets
www.aarp.org/families/caregiving/ - AARP website for - AARP website for caregivers caregivers
www.networkofcare.org - options for Oregon and California- options for Oregon and California
1-800-677-11161-800-677-1116 - Elder Care Information – will help locate - Elder Care Information – will help locate the Area Agency on Aging where the elder lives the Area Agency on Aging where the elder lives
www.ncoa.org - National Council on Aging - National Council on Aging
www.Elderweb.comwww.Elderweb.com
Resources (cont.)Resources (cont.)
Books by Wendy Lustbader, M.S.W.Books by Wendy Lustbader, M.S.W. Taking Care Of Aging Family MembersTaking Care Of Aging Family Members
(practical ideas to make care easier for both the (practical ideas to make care easier for both the giver and receiver)giver and receiver)
Counting On KindnessCounting On Kindness (discusses what it’s like (discusses what it’s like to receive care – what ill people wish their to receive care – what ill people wish their caregivers knew)caregivers knew)
Sourcebook for Sourcebook for EmployersEmployers: : www.sandwiched.pdx.edu
In closing, a final thought:In closing, a final thought:
Let us take care of the children, Let us take care of the children,
for they have a long way to go.for they have a long way to go.
Let us take care of the elders, Let us take care of the elders,
for they have come a long way.for they have come a long way.
Let us take care of those in between,Let us take care of those in between,
for they are doing the work.for they are doing the work.
- - Traditional African PrayerTraditional African Prayer
Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments?Thank you for your interest!Thank you for your interest!
Margaret B. Neal, Ph.D.Margaret B. Neal, Ph.D.Director, Institute on Aging, Director, Institute on Aging,
Portland State UniversityPortland State UniversityP.O. Box 751P.O. Box 751
