Even so, many people think about caregiving solely as the relationship between the caregiver and care recipient.
Many other factors affect care decisions and outcomes beyond the relationship dynamic between these two people, said Adam Davey, PhD., a Temple University professor. Davey, a gerontologist, studies issues related to aging populations, including caregiving networks and retirement trends.
Changing aspects that play a role in caregiving include the availability of family support, social services, and workplace and governmental policies. Davey is an editor of and authored chapters in the upcoming book Caregiving Contexts: Cultural, Familial, and Societal Implications, scheduled to be released in August.
“Caregiving systems are more complex than we acknowledge,” Davey said. “We’re trying to develop a more realistic picture of who’s involved in care and factors that affect their involvement.”
Since World War II, the nation’s demographics have changed with the increase of women’s labor force participation, rising rates of divorce and remarriage, and greater geographic mobility, Davey said.
One thing is certain: There will be fewer adult children to take of aging baby boomers than is true for today’s older adults, Davey said.
“The scope of the problem is changing. The question will become ‘Who’s available to become a caregiver?’ instead of ‘Who’s involved to support in a caregiving network?’” he said.
Although people may be staying healthy longer, they may also live sicker longer as well, increasing the length of time that families must provide care.
Both the European and American contributors to the book contend that the solution to quality care for future older adults lies not only in the improvement or expansion of specific care systems and supports, but also in the development of collaboration between caregiving families and support systems.
“It will be important for families and policy-makers to consider both current trends and future needs in order to support the baby boom generation when they reach old age,” Davey said.
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