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Rural Caregiving in the United States pp 19–31Cite as

Family Caregiving: Implications for Rural Practice, Policy, Education, and Research

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Part of the book series: Caregiving: Research, Practice, Policy ((CARE))

Abstract

Societal norms for family solidarity, and reciprocity and the shared belief that kin can, should, and will depend on each other provide strong social imperatives for families to care for kin in times of sickness and disability (George, 1986). Of the 44 million Americans who provide unpaid, informal care for someone with a chronic illness or disability, more than 80% are family kin: spouses, adult children, grandchildren, or others related by blood or marriage to the person for whom they provide care (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, 2005; Pinquart & Sorensen, 2006). However, family caregiving has been associated with burden, caregiver role strain, and distress (c.f. Berg-Weger et al., 2000; Schulz & Beach, 1999) and family care can be particularly stressful in rural communities where kin often do not live together.

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Acknowledgment

This chapter was developed under the auspices of a research grant to the first author from the National Institute of Nursing Research (RO1 NR 0008285).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University Medical Center, 307 Trent Drive, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Linda Lindsey Davis Ph.D., RN, FAAN & Catherine Lynch Gilliss DNSc, RN, FAAN

Authors
  1. Linda Lindsey Davis Ph.D., RN, FAAN
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  2. Catherine Lynch Gilliss DNSc, RN, FAAN
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  3. Mary Starke Harper
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine Lynch Gilliss DNSc, RN, FAAN .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Comple, Western Kentucky University, 14th Street 104, Bowling Green, 42101, Kentucky, USA

    Ronda C. Talley

  2. Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 62901, Illinois, USA

    Kathleen Chwalisz

  3. College of Nursing, University of Iowa, Newton Road 50, Iowa City, 52242, Iowa, USA

    Kathleen C. Buckwalter

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Davis, L.L., Gilliss, C.L., Harper, M.S. (2011). Family Caregiving: Implications for Rural Practice, Policy, Education, and Research. In: Talley, R., Chwalisz, K., Buckwalter, K. (eds) Rural Caregiving in the United States. Caregiving: Research, Practice, Policy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0302-9_2

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