Methodological challenges in studying the chronically ill elderly: Ethical need to include caregivers.

Abstract

In low- and middle-income countries, caring for the elderly is a responsibility that is undertaken within households with minimal institutional support from the community or structural support from the state [1,2]. Usually, this responsibility is shared within the home, with the physical and emotional work of caring falling to the one who does not have too many extra-residential responsibilities. The gendered nature of caring responsibility is such that, usually it is women who are not in the formal or informal labour markets who share the responsibility [2,3].