SPOUSAL CAREGIVING IN THE INSTITUTIONAL SETTING - TASK-PERFORMANCE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of spousal caregiving following the institutionalization of elderly husbands. Th eoretically, the study was informed by the interpretive perspective in sociology and the concept of career. Methodologically, the study empl oyed a longitudinal and prospective design anti combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data were drawn from a larger study de signed to explore the transition to quasi-widowhood, This article repo rts on one aspect of spousal caregiving following the admission of hus bands to a long term care setting, i.e. the performance of tasks. In t his study, wives carried out a substantial number and wide variety of tasks related to personal, instrumental, relational and recreational c are. They viewed visiting as their most important task but also highly valued providing companionship, love and support, doing little things for their husbands and monitoring their health and well-being. Typica lly, wives carried out tasks they viewed as falling within their domai n of responsibility. Task performance occurred within a context of mea ning that served to explain, in part, their continued involvement in c aregiving following the admission of husbands to a long term care sett ing. Implications of this study point to the need for collaboration in caregiving between wives and staff, to support and enhance the qualit y of care provided by elderly wives who are coping with the institutio nalization of their husbands.