Ultimately, in order to make sure the lookup procedure in addition to findings was authentic according to voices and you may significance regarding people themselves ( Lincoln & Guba, 1985), we operating techniques such as user examining (going back to members or any other trick informants to check on that all of our studies produced feel on it and you will shown the brand new purpose), referential adequacy (it comes back once again to the brand new literary works and experts in the field to guarantee the studies was consistent with one another interviews transcripts and you may past search), and you will expanded engagement (residing in industry and continuing to interviews having an extended period of time to make sure both enough framework and articles for analytical purposes).
Description out of Users
A maximum of 17 caregivers took part in the current research. These types of integrated 5 from Montreal, dos regarding Halifax, and you may 10 regarding Vancouver. Users on investigation incorporated 4 mature youngsters (3 of which identified as heterosexual and step one since gay), seven couples (5 lesbian, 2 homosexual), cuatro loved ones (step three homosexual, step 1 lesbian); and you can step one aunt and you will step one next-door neighbor (one another heterosexual). The latest sex article on the players match brand new expected trying to find of much more women caregivers (10) than simply people (7). Age the brand new caregivers varied out-of 33 ages so you’re able to 68 years, which have an average chronilogical age of 63 decades to your couples and you can 41 decades to your adult people.
The fresh caregivers regarding investigation stated various times within the the brand new caregiving role. Particular had just been caregiving for less than annually, while someone else is caregiving for 2 decades. New regularity regarding contact varied off 24 hours a day so you can dos affairs away from get in touch with (calls, visits) weekly (get a hold of Dining table step one).
Self-Identity because an effective Caregiver
Browse regarding the standard caregiving literary works (reflecting this new heterosexual caregiving dating) implies that those people members of the family which provide delinquent crucial, real, monetary, and emotional service so you can earlier family members don’t usually identify themselves while the caregivers. This is especially valid off spouses whom pick caregiving due to the fact a beneficial pure extension of the spousal role, something done of like or obligations or this means that away from a reciprocal experience of brand new care and attention receiver. Caregivers in today’s study understood using this type of fact, getting obvious evidence one to caregivers of lgbt the elderly keeps a similar feeling of determination and you may identity (self-character given that a good caregiver) given that caregivers of heterosexual older people. The next quotation exemplifies that it:
I’m not most a good caregiver, it is a love dependent love. I really like my partner, I was constantly with him, we’ll continually BuddyGays Zaloguj siД™ be with her. … It’s been three decades we is together, and so i manage him. … (Partner, gay)
One aspect from caring for a homosexual otherwise lesbian elderly can get through the thought of community label and you will commitment once the an inspiring grounds having taking worry. Which pointed to help you an alternate energy of the lgbt area that will potentially determine the newest caregiving feel. That lesbian mate caregiver shown how the lady loved ones in the lesbian area you are going to perceive on their own: “A lot less … caregivers, however, there is rallying inside the area to say i have to set help as much as [her].”
This notion off area confronted the concept that old homosexual people and you can lesbians was in fact, for their sexual direction, a great deal more isolated than their heterosexual competitors. In reality, some research enjoys advised one earlier homosexual guys and you can lesbians effectively practice friendships and you will experience an extensive feeling of society throughout the their life you to observe them in their retirement ( Shippy mais aussi al., 2004; Thompson & Richardson, 2002).