Coupledom in later life: living together and apart
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Coupledom in later life: living together and apart
IRAS ID
236828
Contact name
Manik Gopinath
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Open University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, days
Research summary
Our pilot qualitative study funded by British Academy/Leverhulme aims to develop an understanding of how couple (married and cohabiting) relationships in later life might be experienced and maintained when partners are separated by movement into a care home. Evidence suggests that high quality couple relationships in later life positively influence wellbeing of both spouses (Umberson et al 2006). Ongoing wider research on loneliness, quality of life, care and caring speaks to the significance of (social) relationships in later life. Yet missing from such debates is attention to those minority but highly complex relationships that are lived out across different residential environments such as, the domestic home and the care home.
In extending understandings of the dynamics of such relationships, under- researched in British context, we will share findings from thirty interviews with 8- 10 couples (16 -20 participants) with practitioners contributing to development of inclusive, cost-effective interventions for separated care home residents and their spouses. Couples, both married and cohabiting, aged 60 years and above, who have been separated by movement into a care home will be invited to participate in the study. Participants will be recruited primarily from the wider geographical area of Buckinghamshire starting with Milton Keynes local authority area.
References
Umberson, D., Williams, K., Powers, D. A., Liu, H. & Needham, B. 2006. You make me sick: Marital quality and health over the life course. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 47 (1), pp.1-16.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
18/IEC08/0008
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion