TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding the Daily Experiences and Perceptions of Homebound Older Adults and Their Caregivers
T2 - A Qualitative Study
AU - Mickler, Alexandria K.
AU - Leff, Bruce
AU - Eaton England, Ashley
AU - Garrigues, Sarah K.
AU - Schuchman, Mattan
AU - Perissinotto, Carla
AU - Ritchie, Christine S.
AU - Harrison, Krista L.
AU - Sheehan, Orla C.
N1 - Funding Information:
We sincerely thank all participants who took part in this study and paved the way for future work to support the development of a patient-centered research agenda for homebound older adults and caregivers. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by a Eugene Washington Engagement Award (7258-JHU) from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The sponsor had no role in the design, methods, recruitment, data collection, analysis, or preparation of this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - More than 7.3 million older adults in the United States have difficulty leaving their homes or are completely homebound, yet little data exist on the experiences of homebound older adults and their caregivers. We conducted 30 semi-structured qualitative interviews with homebound older adults and caregivers recruited through home-based medical care practices in Baltimore and San Francisco. Thematic template analyses revealed that homebound older adults experience varying degrees of independence in activities of daily living, although their degree of dependence increases over time. Caregivers have a multifaceted, round-the-clock role. Both patients and caregivers experience burdens including social isolation and guilt. Navigating medical care and caregiving was further complicated by the complexity of the U.S. health care system; however, home-based medical care was viewed as a high-quality alternative to hospitals or nursing homes. Our findings suggest that providers and health care systems should expand the availability and accessibility of home-based care and improve caregiver support opportunities.
AB - More than 7.3 million older adults in the United States have difficulty leaving their homes or are completely homebound, yet little data exist on the experiences of homebound older adults and their caregivers. We conducted 30 semi-structured qualitative interviews with homebound older adults and caregivers recruited through home-based medical care practices in Baltimore and San Francisco. Thematic template analyses revealed that homebound older adults experience varying degrees of independence in activities of daily living, although their degree of dependence increases over time. Caregivers have a multifaceted, round-the-clock role. Both patients and caregivers experience burdens including social isolation and guilt. Navigating medical care and caregiving was further complicated by the complexity of the U.S. health care system; however, home-based medical care was viewed as a high-quality alternative to hospitals or nursing homes. Our findings suggest that providers and health care systems should expand the availability and accessibility of home-based care and improve caregiver support opportunities.
KW - caregiving
KW - home-based primary care
KW - homebound
KW - qualitative research
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U2 - 10.1177/0733464821990171
DO - 10.1177/0733464821990171
M3 - Article
C2 - 33522364
AN - SCOPUS:85100503334
SN - 0733-4648
VL - 40
SP - 1722
EP - 1732
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
IS - 12
ER -