Partner caregiving for older adults with mental health problems V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Couples lived experiences of mental health informal caregiving and care-receiving in later life
IRAS ID
302703
Contact name
Lucy Piggin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bangor University,
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research with older adults which looks at the experiences of informal caring has largely focused on living with dementia or physical health problems, and there is a lack of understanding about the qualitative, unique experiences of families adjusting to living with significant mental health problems. Approximately 15% of adults aged 60 and over experience mental health problems, most commonly depression and anxiety disorders and often they are experienced for the first time in later life (World Health Organization, 2017). With care in the community becoming increasingly common, primarily support for older people with mental health problems is provided by informal carers, often partners who are also older (Petrie & Kirkup, 2018). There are additional challenges that come with older age such as physical health, financial, retirement, isolation and societal stigmas which may affect both members of the couple. This study aims to shed light on how care at home in the context of mental health problems is experienced for older couples to understand perceptions, meanings and unique experiences and how these relationships may be best supported.
This study will recruit older adults who are supported by a secondary care community mental health service in North Wales and their partners. It will involve separate qualitative interviews with the caregiver and care-receiver. The study aims to interview 5-7 couples and will be completed by June 2022. Interviews are estimated to last around 1-2 hours and will be conducted remotely (telephone/ video-conferencing) or in-person (participant’s homes/clinic room) depending on participant’s preferences and COVID-19 government and local policies at the time of the interviews. Interview transcripts will be analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which is an exploratory approach concerned with how people make sense of their experiences, including major life transitions such as becoming unwell and new caring roles (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009).
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/1308
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion