Date of Conferral
2-9-2024
Date of Award
February 2024
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Health
Advisor
Eboni Green
Abstract
Few studies have focused on the lived experiences of informal caregivers of residents of assisted living facilities (ALFs) and their perceptions of their caregiver burden, which can lead to decreased physical and mental health, decreased economic status, and negative effects on the care recipient’s wellbeing. A considerable knowledge and practice gap remains regarding how public health practitioners relate to informal caregiving. The purpose of this study was to understand what informal caregivers of ALF residents perceive as factors that affect their caregiver burden and the perceived impact caregiver burden has on the caregiver and their eldercare recipient. The social-ecological model provided the organizational framework for this qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants recruited through convenience sampling. Thematic data analysis resulted in three significant findings: informal caregivers of ALF residents experience varying degrees of caregiver burden, factors that influence the perception of caregiver burden are represented at all five levels of the SEM, and informal caregivers have varied perceptions of how the presence and degree of caregiver burden impacts their care recipients. Implications for positive social change include assisting public health professionals and ALF staff to better address the promotion of health and wellness of informal caregivers and their ALF-dwelling care recipients, encouraging greater multilevel involvement in addressing caregiver burden, and further developing the foundation of knowledge needed to inform evidence-based interventions and policy development.
Recommended Citation
Schlegel, Gösta H W, "Perceptions of Burden Among Informal Caregivers of Older Adults in Assisted Living" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15475.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15475
