Getting to the point: offspring caregivers and the nursing home decision

This article examines the ways that 11 offspring caregivers talk about the possibility of nursing home admission for their physically disabled parents and explores the relationship between caregiver burden and nursing home placement. Participants were part of a longitudinal population-based study of community- residing older people. Content analysis of extended case narrative from qualitative, semi-structured interviews indicates that caregiver burden is related to feelings about nursing home use but does not necessarily signal a reluctance to continue providing care in the community. Findings are discussed in terms of future efforts to support caregivers and keep elders in the community. Keywords: Informal caregivers, caregiver burden, attitudes about nursing homes, offspring caregivers, disabled elders