Eventually, to help you ensure that the research procedure additionally the findings was real depending on the sounds and you can significance from users themselves ( Lincoln & Guba, 1985), we operating procedure including representative checking (going back to participants and other trick informants to evaluate you to definitely all of our study produced feel on them and you may reflected their brand spanking new intention), referential adequacy (referring back to the fresh new literature and to experts in industry to guarantee the study try in keeping with both interview transcripts and prior browse), and lengthened engagement (residing in industry and continuing in order to interview getting an extended time to make certain both sufficient context and you will blogs getting analytic aim).
Description away from Users
A total of 17 caregivers took part in the present day investigation. These provided 5 off Montreal, dos regarding Halifax, and you may ten of Vancouver. Members regarding analysis integrated cuatro mature people (step three out-of exactly who identified as heterosexual and you will step one because gay), 7 couples (5 lesbian, 2 gay), cuatro family members (3 gay, 1 lesbian); and you will step 1 sis and you may step one neighbor (one another heterosexual). The brand new gender post on the participants match the latest questioned trying to find out-of much more female caregivers (10) than simply guys (7). The age of brand new caregivers varied out of 33 ages so you’re able to 68 ages, that have the average period of 63 decades with the lovers and you will 41 age to your adult pupils.
The brand new caregivers on data said a range of intervals within the the new caregiving part. Particular had simply been caregiving at under per year, whereas anybody else was actually caregiving for approximately 2 decades. The latest volume regarding contact ranged off 24 hours a day so you can dos issues away from get in touch with (calls, visits) weekly (find Dining table step 1).
Self-Identity as good Caregiver
Browse regarding standard caregiving books (showing this new heterosexual caregiving relationship) signifies that men and women family unit members which give outstanding crucial, real, economic, and mental support to help you old family relations do not commonly identify themselves while the caregivers. This is especially valid regarding partners who get a hold of caregiving as the an effective sheer extension of the spousal character, some thing complete from love or obligations or thus out of a mutual experience of this new care receiver. Caregivers in the modern investigation recognized with this specific facts, bringing obvious indications one to caregivers regarding lgbt older people enjoys a similar sense of motivation and you may identity (self-personality since pretty Ulsan brides the a caregiver) since caregivers from heterosexual the elderly. Next price exemplifies so it:
I am not really an effective caregiver, it’s a relationship established like. Everyone loves my spouse, I happened to be always with your, we’re going to always be to one another. … It has been 30 years that we try to each other, so i look after your. … (Partner, gay)
Taking care of regarding caring for a beneficial gay otherwise lesbian senior may through the notion of neighborhood name and you can commitment while the an inspiring foundation for taking proper care. So it indicated to a separate electricity of gay and lesbian area which will probably determine the new caregiving experience. That lesbian lover caregiver reflected exactly how their particular family relations on lesbian neighborhood you will perceive themselves: “Much less … caregivers, however, there would be rallying into the society to say i need certainly to put help around [her].”
This idea away from community confronted the idea one to more mature gay guys and lesbians have been, for their sexual direction, far more remote than just the heterosexual counterparts. Actually, some investigating has actually recommended that old gay dudes and you will lesbians efficiently take part in relationships and you will sense a broad feeling of community through the the lives that follows all of them into their old age ( Shippy mais aussi al., 2004; Thompson & Richardson, 2002).