Caregiving responsibility for aging parents: Determinants and consequences

This study concerning parental caregiving aimed at determining the different factors in the assumption of caregiving responsibility among siblings. Likewise, similarities and differences in the consequences caregiving tasks performed by single and married caregivers from the low and high income groups are examined. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with ten female caregivers taking care of physically challenged aging parents. Data were analyzed through lifting verbatims from the responses which answered the problems in this study. These were then categorized and tables summarizing the tabulated categories were constructed. Findings revealed that filial duty and proximity are the predominant factors which determined a child\u27s assumption of caregiving responsibility in the Philippine setting. Moreover, the caregivers\u27 civil status and ordinal position also affected the child\u27s assumption of this responsibility. The emotional well being of all the caregivers were affected, mostly indicating positive consequences. The physical well being of low income caregivers were affected in a negative manner. Low income single caregivers experienced the most number of consequences due to lack of logistics and support. Low income caregivers perform direct caregiving, while most high income caregivers do indirect caregiving in the form of supervising hired helps. The act of parental caregiving is not actually distressful, especially in countries where it is culturally prescribed. Caregivers can be taught time management techniques to lessen the burden brought about by caregiving