Sibling resentments and alliances during the parent care years: implications for social work practice

Caring for parents with end-stage renal disease: What do adult children face and how do they cope?

AIM

This study aimed to explore the stressors and coping strategies of adult children who care for their parents with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing in-centre haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND

Given the growing number of older patients with ESRD, adult children are increasingly providing more care and assistance to their parents with this condition. However, little is still known about the experiences of caring for a parent undergoing haemodialysis.

DESIGN

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines.

METHODS

Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with nineteen adult children (44.9 ± 11.7 years old) were carried out. Data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four stressors (managing disease and treatment-related requirements, patients' reaction to treatment, lack of support from family members, and additional challenges to personal and family life) and five coping strategies (active coping and planning, seeking social support for emotional use, accepting the situation as it is, venting emotions, and maintaining interests outside caring) were identified.

CONCLUSION

Caring for a parent undergoing haemodialysis is an experience with several challenges, marked by educational needs, emotional distress, lack of support from close relatives and the need to manage multiple responsibilities.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Findings highlight the importance of developing interdisciplinary educational and supportive interventions to support this group of caregivers. These interventions should facilitate access to disease and treatment-related information, provide emotional support, and train coping skills to prevent burden and promote healthy adjustment to the demands of ESRD care.

'It is a Big Thing': Exploring the Impact of Osteoarthritis from the Perspective of Adults Caring for Parents - The Sandwich Generation

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and impact of caring for an individual with severe osteoarthritis (OA) from the perspective of adult children, looking at the relationship between adult children caring for parents with this condition and the tensions of the 'sandwich generation'.

METHODS

A mixed qualitative approach, combining focus groups and individual semi-structured interviews was used. In total, 36 participants were purposively sampled and discussed the impact of caring for a parent with OA. Data analysis was based upon interpretative phenomenological analysis.

RESULTS

Findings reported the impact and complexity of caring for a parent with OA. We present three themes related to the work of caring for a relative with this condition: (i) the physical and emotional work of caring; (ii) changes in reciprocal family roles; (iii) the imbalance in caring roles within the family.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants described the significant and extensive impact on their lives of caring for a parent with long-term OA, particularly when faced with the pressures of caring for their own children as well. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Musculoskeletal Care Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.