We Treat Them Better Than the Family They Have: Negotiating Aide-Family Relationships in the Home Care Setting. (16th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Franzosa, Emily; Tsui, Emma
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 571
• Page End: 572
• Publication Date: 2020-12-16
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1895
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Unpaid and paid care in the home are closely intertwined, but a lack of outside supervision and support often forces family and non-family caregivers to negotiate care tasks and boundaries alone, leading to role conflict and role ambiguity. This analysis drew on two qualitative studies of home health aides (S1 n = 27, S2 n =26) to explore 1) aides' perception of their caretaking role; 2) aides' experiences co-producing care with family members; and 3) factors affecting these relationships. Data were analyzed through grounded theory and discourse analysis. We identified three relationship dynamics between aides and family members: independent, where aides and families provided care separately; competitive, where aides and families struggled over control of care tasks; and carative, where aides considered family part of the unit of care. We propose strategies for employer agencies to better support paid and unpaid caregivers in negotiating boundaries and co-producing care.