"Doing the Right Thing": A Study of Cross-Generational Eldercare Decision-making in Community and Disease Context

Utilizing the sociology of knowledge perspective, as well as elements of structural-functional theory this study examined the decision-making process as it relates to eldercare. Specifically, how does the knowledge of available resources, community context, and caregiving beliefs affect the caregiving alternative one chooses? Furthermore, what role does family social milieus play in the decision-making process? This research used a 20-item interview schedule developed specifically for this study; and the unit of analysis was the individual responsible for making decisions about the care received by an elder. The survey used both closed and open-ended questions, designed to capture data related to the cultural, socio-demographic, and social structural level of each respondent. Thirty-three (33) individuals responsible for eldercare decision-making completed an interview, which took anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to complete. Data from closed ended questions were coded and entered into an SPSS file. The data from open-ended questions were summarized on a case-by-case basis and the content analyzed for particular themes or patterns that could be measured. Finding from this study, as well as policy recommendations are discussed, concentrating on social service agencies, medical organizational resources, public education as it relates to social and medical agencies, and economic and medical dilemmas effecting decision-makers.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Worldwide Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy

Year dc:date.available

2006

Author dc:creator

• Baron-Yenerall, Jeannie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Norman Conti
• Douglas Harper

• Decision-making
• Eldercare

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/22

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-1021