Family Caregiving: The Positive Impact on Adolescent Relationships

Abstract

Adult children are a significant contingent of elder care providers; a number of these individuals simultaneously care for children of their own while coping with caregiving commitments. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of information regarding the caregiving impact on these children and young adults. Moreover, the possible positive consequences of caring for an impaired elder are rarely mentioned. The current study was undertaken to examine the potential positive caregiving experiences of adolescents and their perceptions of relational enhancement as a result of caregiving. Twenty adolescents aged 14-18 were interviewed and asked a series of semistructured questions concerning satisfaction related to caregiving. To be included, respondents had to be a child, grandchild, or niece/nephew of an Alzheimer's (or Alzheimer's Type Dementia) patient cared for by the adolescent's immediate family. Employing features of content analysis methodology, all interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The results merged into four primary categories: 1) increased sibling activity/sharing; 2) greater empathy for older adults; 3) significant mother-adolescent bonding and 4) peer relationship selection and maintenance. The implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Grandchildren's Perceptions of Caring for Grandparents

“…When grandchildren caregivers are included in research studies, they are typically included with other caregivers (e.g., Beach, 1997;Dellman-Jenkins et al, 2000;Piercy & Chapman, 2001;Shaw et al, 1997); therefore, the unique experiences of grandchildren caregivers cannot be ascertained.…”

“…Essentially, Creasey and Jarvis (1989) believe that the burden mothers assume with the caregiving experience affects how their children perceive their relationship with their grandparent. Grandchildren who are providing care to a grandparent, and whose parents are also involved in the caregiving experience, may experience stress as it trickles down from their parent (Beach, 1997;.…”

“…The participants in Beach's (1997) study experienced numerous positive outcomes to providing care to someone with Alzheimer's disease (e.g., increase in positive sibling interactions, increased understanding for aging process and attitudes about aging, positive relationships with peers, and increase in dialogue with parents). Piercy and Chapman (2001) provided an introduction to the differences and similarities associated with how caregiving roles of family members (i.e.…”

“…Although Beach's (1997) study included grandchildren, children and nieces or nephews of a person with Alzheimer's disease were also included in the study. The researcher did occasionally separate participants' relationship to the care receiver in the results section; she did not, however, separate grandchildren caregivers from other young adolescent caregivers during her discussion.…”

Evaluation eines psychoedukativen Kurses für Angehörige von Schlaganfallpatienten

“…Ein häufig verwendetes Maß ist die "Burden Scale", die 1980 von Zarit und Mitarbeitern für Angehörige von dementen Patienten entworfen wurde (Zarit & Zarit, 1983) und das Ausmaß der Belastung in verschiedenen Bereichen (Gesundheit, verschiedenen Studien zu dieser Thematik (Beach, 1997;Farran, 1997;Gold, Cohen, Shulman, Zucchero, Andres, Etzezadi & 1995;Leipold, 2004;im Überblick: Kramer, 1997a). …”