J Gerontol Nurs. 2022 Jun;48(6):33-39. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20220506-02. Epub 2022 Jun 1.
Specific burdens of older spousal caregivers often remain invisible, and spousal caregivers rarely receive the support they need to perform their role. To provide suitable support for spousal caregivers, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive understanding of their well-being, particularly during end-of-life caregiving. The aim of the current study was to gain more insight into the psychosocial well-being of older spouses engaged in end-of-life caregiving for their partners with cancer. This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach with in-depth interviews conducted with older (aged ≥65 years) spousal caregivers of individuals who died of cancer. Eleven spouses participated in the study. Strains on psychosocial well-being during end-of-life caregiving fell into four major themes: , , , and . Results suggest that older spousal caregivers are experiencing issues that might be more pronounced due to their older age, for example, physical and emotional exhaustion and loneliness. Providing care is time-consuming and often leads to a reduced social network, which enhances loneliness. Moreover, as relationships with ailing partners changed and communication deteriorated, participants reported feeling more like a caregiver rather than a partner. [(6), 33-39.].
老年配偶照顾者的具体负担常常不为人知，而且他们很少得到履行照顾职责所需的支持。为了为配偶照顾者提供适当的支持，了解他们的福祉至关重要，特别是在临终关怀期间。本研究旨在更深入地了解参与照顾癌症晚期伴侣的老年配偶的心理社会福祉。这项定性研究采用现象学方法，对因癌症去世的患者的 11 名老年（年龄≥65 岁）配偶照顾者进行了深入访谈。临终关怀期间的心理社会压力分为四个主要主题：情感疲惫、身体疲惫、孤独感和角色转变。结果表明，老年配偶照顾者正在经历一些问题，这些问题可能由于他们的年龄较大而更加突出，例如身体和情绪疲惫以及孤独感。照顾工作非常耗时，往往会导致社交网络缩小，从而加剧孤独感。此外，随着与患病伴侣关系的变化和沟通的恶化，参与者表示更像是一名照顾者，而不是伴侣。
