An ethnographic study of adult children responsible for elderly parents

The present study presents an ethnographic study of how adult children cope with the stresses and strains of caring for their elderly parents as the parent moves through four phases of dependency. The first phase of dependency is where both the adult child and the elderly parent exist independently of one another and maintain a mutual relationship through phone calls, visits, and letters. During the second phase, the adult child becomes responsible for the elderly parents\u27 activities of daily living even though the parent lives independently of the child. Phase III occurs when the parent lives with the adult child. In Phase IV, the adult child is forced to place the elderly parent in a nursing home. The study uses triangulation of data by relying on journals kept by each adult child, structured interviews, and field observations of the adult children as they care for their elderly parents. The results of the study are coded to identify the changes in the stresses and strains, the conflicts, and the time involved as the adult child becomes more responsible for the elderly parent. The findings reveal several themes: (a) the progression of phases is not consistent; two cases went from Phase IV back to Phase III; (b) the sex ratio of the caregivers may have a higher proportion of males; (c) anger, resentment, and guilt were found in Phase I; tension, stress, and conflict were evident in Phase II; a minimal amount of stress, strain, and conflict were found in Phase III; (d) there was relief and not guilt for adult children who had their elderly parents in Phase IV; (e) the greatest amount of time was spent in Phase III; and (f) caregiver strain built and seemed to become more acute in each succeeding phase (from I to III) and then was relieved in Phase IV. The conclusion presents a holistic picture of what the adult child experiences as the elderly parent moves through the four phases of dependency