A phenomenological-hermeneutic study exploring caring responsibility for a chronically ill, older parent with frailty.

Helle Elisabeth Andersen,Bente Hoeck,Dorthe Susanne Nielsen,Jesper Ryg,Charlotte Delmar

doi:10.1002/nop2.467

Helle Elisabeth Andersen, Bente Hoeck + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.467

Copy DOI

Abstract

AimTo provide lifeworld insights into experiences of adult children with caring responsibility for an 80+‐year‐old chronically ill parent with frailty.BackgroundInformal care is common in Nordic welfare countries; however, little is known about adult children's experience of caring responsibility in this setting.DesignA phenomenological–hermeneutic study based on Reflective Lifeworld Research.MethodsDiaries and semi‐structured interviews with 12 adult children.ResultsCaring responsibility is identified as “a condition of life, filled with uncertainty.” Three constituents contribute to this phenomenon: (a) balancing love, duty and reciprocity; (b) being the parent's advocate and manager; and (c) experiencing concerns and bodily strain.ConclusionAdult children work hard to provide care and enhance the well‐being of their parent. Heidegger's concept ‘Fürsorge’ may help us understand how by showing how caring responsibility means balancing different roles vis‐à‐vis the parent, one's own life and the health and social systems. Caring responsibility changes the relationship between parent and child.

Highlights

The number of people aged 80 years or more, called the “oldest-old,” is increasing worldwide
Informal care is common in Nordic welfare countries; little is known about adult children's experience of caring responsibility in this setting
The phenomenon of caring responsibility is a condition of life; it is accompanied by substantial uncertainty due to the parent's illness and frailty and is enforced by the fact that the parent often lives alone

Summary

Introduction

The number of people aged 80 years or more, called the “oldest-old,” is increasing worldwide. Older people living alone are vulnerable, have poor self-reported health and face everyday life challenges including mobility issues, risk of social isolation and loneliness (Birkeland & Natvig, 2009; Fisher, Baker, Koval, Lishok, & Maisto, 2007; Kharicha et al, 2007; Rolls, Seymour, Froggatt, & Hanratty, 2011; Taube, Jakobsson, Midlöv, & Kristensson, 2016). They are at increased risk of unplanned hospitalization (Pimouguet, Rizzuto, Lagergren, Fratiglioni, & Xu, 2017). Adult children are typically at a stage in their own lives where they face competing demands and must balance work, parenting, spousal relationships, early retirement and other life demands, while simultaneously facing caring responsibility for their older parent(s) (O'Sullivan, 2014)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion