Caregiving men of Alzheimer's disease sufferers in Nuevo León (Mexico): experiences and meanings

Despite their invaluable contribution to health care, men who fulfill the social role of primary caregivers at an older age represent an understudied group in the state of Nuevo León (Mexico), and elsewhere. Ongoing demographic and epidemiological changes point to a graying population, an increase of disabling chronic and degenerative diseases, and functional limitations linked to a decline in self-reliance. The latter leads to further dependence on assistance which is predominantly home based. This article investigates the lived experiences of caregiving men providing care to their elderly relatives who have Alzheimer's disease (AD). After obtaining verbal informed consent, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were carried out in the natural environment with a convenience sample of 58 spouses and sons. Absenteeism was a common occurrence among those who were still involved in the labor force; however, the ways it was handled differed according to the sector of the economy (formal vs. informal) the participant contributed to. Assistance provided by AD support groups, the availability and use of paid helpers, immediate and extended family, and making adjustments to daily routines to accommodate work schedules contributed to easing the burden of care. However, medical expenses put a strain on caregiver finances, and complaints about the costs of medications were consistent among employed and retired caregivers. A mix of positive and negative aspects inherent to this dyadic process was revealed along with trajectories of elder caregiving that were not always unilineal. Relationships of reciprocity, dependence and interdependence, and strengthened family bonds were salient. These findings are discussed in light of existentialist and humanistic theoretical frameworks on social integration and needs, with their propensity for emphasizing cognitive benefits, and the related meanings to individuals. The findings imply that concerted policy making in public health, labor, and social sectors, to provide timely recognition and support to caregivers, is needed as a proactive approach to lightening the burden of elder caregiving.