From the Woman's Viewpoint: Ethical Dilemmas Confronted by Women as Informal Caregivers of Frail Elders

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Issue Date
2004Author
Koenig, Terry L.
Publisher
Alliance for Children and Families
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Women as informal caregivers face complex ethical dilemmas in caring for a frail elder. Through indepth
interviews with 13 ethnically diverse caregivers, this qualitative study explored women's ethical
decision-making. Focus group interviews of home health staff, key informant caregivers, and interviewees
provided guidance for research design, reflection on findings and development of implications.
Findings are integrated into an ethical decision-making model that includes types of ethical
dilemmas (e.g., protection of life vs. autonomy); feelings that permeate decision making (e.g., fear);
processes for addressing ethical dilemmas (e.g., family collaboration); and supportive services.
Implications include (a) expansion of services to meet caregivers' ongoing needs, (b) research that
acknowledges multiple decision-making components, and (c) the use of caregiving vignettes in the
classroom.
Description
Copyright 2004 Alliance for Children and Families
ISSN
1044-3894Collections
Citation
Koening, T. L. (2004). From the Woman's Viewpoint: Ethical Dilemmas Confronted by Women as Informal Caregivers of Frail Elders. Families in Society, 85(2), 236-242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.319
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