The Family Caregiver Role From the Perspective of Older Women Experiencing Poverty in a High‐Income Country: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

Aim

To explore how older women experiencing poverty in a high-income country perceive their family caregiver role from a gender perspective.

Design

Descriptive qualitative study.

Method

A convenience sample of seventeen older female caregivers experiencing poverty was interviewed in-depth between October 2023 and March 2024. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted following the phases described by Braun & Clarke. ATLAS.ti software was used for data analysis.

Results

Three main themes were developed from the data analysis: (1) The duality of family caregiving: between informal female support and structural neglect, (2) family care in later life as a continuation of a life devoted to others, (3) older female family caregiving as a gender issue.

Conclusions

Older female caregivers experiencing poverty have limited formal support and unequal access to resources. Older women experiencing poverty experience both gratitude and despair in their caregiving role, which inevitably deteriorates their health.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Nursing interventions for older female caregivers experiencing poverty should include an assessment of social determinants of health, focusing on gender and socio-economic barriers. Implementing system navigation interventions, such as community-based case management, resource referral programmes, and personalised care coordination, could connect older female family caregivers to essential resources and support networks, thus addressing their mental health needs and promoting equity, which would enhance their overall well-being and dignity.

Impact

Experiencing poverty increases the vulnerability of older female caregivers, exacerbating gender inequality. These women often face mental health issues as they face the pressure of meeting their own needs and those of their care recipients with a lack of formal support. This neglect can lead to serious health problems, which emphasises the need for equitable nursing interventions.

Reporting Method

The study is reported following the COREQ guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patients or public were involved in the study development and implementation.