A MULTIDIMENSIONAL AND CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING DIVERSEFAMILY MEMBERS ROLES IN LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITIES

Very few studies have explicitly examined the roles of family members in institutionalized settings and how these roles are developed. The m ost widely used theoretical framework employed in the studies that do exist is Litwak's structural-functionalist framework-the theory of sha ved functions and balanced coordination. Although Litwak's theory emph asizes the importance of both formal organizations (e.g., long-term ca re facilities) and primary groups (e.g., family) to optimal care, the framework provides a limited understanding of the roles of family memb ers in longterm care facilities. The first section of this article des cribes Litwak's framework and then outlines the limitations of this ta sk-assignment approach. By adopting a symbolic interactionist approach and integrating concepts from an ecological perspective and Hughes' c oncept of career, an alternative, more dynamic, contextual framework f or understanding the roles of family members in long-term care setting s is presented.