Finally, to help you make sure the look processes plus the results was in fact real according to voices and you will meanings away from participants on their own ( Lincoln & Guba, 1985), i employed techniques including associate checking (time for professionals or other secret informants to check one our very own analysis produced experience on it and mirrored its modern intention), referential adequacy (it comes down to the latest literary works and specialists in industry so that the studies is actually consistent with one another interview transcripts and earlier in the day search), and offered wedding (residing in the field and ongoing so you can interviews getting an extended period of time to be sure one another adequate perspective and you will posts for analytical aim).
Description away from Participants
A total of 17 caregivers took part in the modern analysis. This type of incorporated 5 of Montreal, 2 regarding Halifax, and you may 10 regarding Vancouver. Members regarding the research provided cuatro mature people (3 off whom identified as heterosexual and you will step 1 due to the fact gay), seven partners (5 lesbian, 2 gay), 4 friends (step 3 gay, step one lesbian); and you will 1 sis and 1 neighbor (both heterosexual). The fresh new gender report on the participants complement the latest requested finding regarding much more feminine caregivers (10) than dudes (7). The age of the fresh caregivers varied off 33 decades so you’re able to 68 decades, which have the typical chronilogical age of 63 many years towards the couples and you may 41 many years towards adult children.
New caregivers regarding the research advertised various menstruation for the the fresh caregiving part. Particular got just already been caregiving at under a-year, while others ended up being caregiving for approximately 20 years. New frequency from get in touch with ranged from 24 hours a day in order to 2 activities of contact (calls, visits) a week (look for Desk 1).
Self-Personality given that a Caregiver
Search on the general caregiving literature (highlighting the new heterosexual caregiving matchmaking) shows that those people friends which promote unpaid important, physical, monetary, and you can emotional help to old nearest and dearest do not will identify themselves because the caregivers. Skandinavialainen morsian This is especially true out of partners which come across caregiving since an effective sheer expansion of its spousal role, some thing complete away from like otherwise responsibility or because of this away from a reciprocal connection with the brand new care person. Caregivers in today’s study known with this fact, bringing clear indicators that caregivers out-of gay and lesbian the elderly has actually the same sense of inspiration and you may label (self-personality once the an effective caregiver) once the caregivers out of heterosexual the elderly. The next offer reflects so it:
I’m not extremely a beneficial caregiver, it’s a love established love. I love my spouse, I found myself always having him, we’re going to be to one another. … It has been 30 years that we are to each other, thus i manage your. … (Companion, gay)
One aspect out of looking after an excellent gay otherwise lesbian senior get range from the thought of neighborhood term and connection while the a motivating foundation to possess taking care. It indicated in order to a different strength of your own lgbt community which could probably determine brand new caregiving feel. You to definitely lesbian companion caregiver reflected how their unique family unit members about lesbian area you are going to understand by themselves: “A lot less … caregivers, however, there would be rallying inside society to say i must lay assistance as much as [her].”
This concept of community challenged the theory one older gay guys and you will lesbians were, due to their sexual orientation, a whole lot more remote than just their heterosexual competitors. In reality, a little research enjoys ideal you to definitely old gay dudes and you will lesbians effectively do friendships and you will experience an extensive feeling of people during the lifestyle one follows all of them to their later years ( Shippy mais aussi al., 2004; Thompson & Richardson, 2002).