FACTORS INFLUENCING CAREGIVER CARE RECEIVER COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE WELL-BEING OF OLDER CARE RECEIVERS

The purpose of this study is to examine communication between frail ol der people and their caregiving spouses, and its relation to well-bein g in older care receivers. A sample of 53 community residing spousal d yads (balanced with respect to sex of care receiver) completed questio nnaires about their well-being, relational satisfaction, and communica tion patterns. In addition, conversations between the dyads were video taped and analyzed. The type of communication used by the caregiving s pouses was influenced by their sex, their earlier relationship with th eir spouse, and their level of well-being. Caregivers who used an over ly directive communication tone with their spouse were likely to be wi ves and carergivers who had a high degree of autonomy in their earlier relationship with their spouse. Low levels of life satisfaction and h igh affect balance in caregivers were associated with caregivers using a more patronizing tone. The well-being of care receivers was also re lated to their perceptions of their caregivers' communication. Care re ceivers who perceived their caregivers' communication as patronizing r eported low levels of affect balance and high levels of conflict in th e relationship. The findings suggest that certain characteristics of s pousal carergivers are related to the type of communication they use w hen conversing with their partner, although the relations are not alwa ys as expected. Furthermore, the data also confirm the Communication P redicament of Aging Model, in that communication from caregivers that conveys a lack of respect can have a negative effect on the well-being of care receivers.