The NINR has recognized that the number of family members providing caregiving for loved ones in the home is escalating and has identified caregiving research as a priority. With the changing demographics of the American family, many family members, in particular adult children, will be caregiving from a distance. Although much is known about local family caregivers, nothing is known about the needs and concerns of distant family caregivers. This study will explore the differences in local and distant caregiving of a parent with advanced cancer. Local and distant caregivers will be recruited from a large Midwestern Comprehensive Cancer Center. Caregiver reactions (burden, benefit, and depression) will be compared, and the influence of patient and caregiver variables and social support will be examined. Results of this study will lay the foundation for the development of an intervention study for this growing population of distant caregivers. Relevance of Research to Public Health With the well known increase in the aging population and the increase in mobility of the American family, many adult children find themselves providing care and support to aging parents with cancer at a distance. This study is designed to examine the experience of sons and daughters and establish a foundation for designing helpful interventions in the future. ? ? ?
| Mazanec, Polly (2012) Distance caregiving a parent with cancer. Semin Oncol Nurs 28:271-8 |
| Mazanec, Polly; Daly, Barbara J; Ferrell, Betty Rolling et al. (2011) Lack of communication and control: experiences of distance caregivers of parents with advanced cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum 38:307-13 |
