COVID-19, Social Distancing and Spouse/Partner Caregiving for those with Alzheimer's Disease

Project Summary: This administrative supplement extends a qualitative study of same-sex and heterosexual olderadults who care for their spouses/partners with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Theoriginal research seeks to pinpoint how caregivers draw upon existing gender repertoires - setsof skills and resources learned over the life course that affirm gender identities formed inrelation to the gender division of labor-in performing their care work. The resulting caregivingapproaches influence the particular areas of care work that these caregivers find problematic,the ways they might respond to these challenges, and the extent to which such strategies helpcaregivers effectively perform their work. This study asks how sexual orientation shapes genderrepertories, given that the division of labor among gay and lesbian couples must be negotiated,and examines how this shapes caregiving approaches and experiences.The emergence of COVID-19 and such containment measures as social distancing havecreated a situation with which all AD caregivers must contend, regardless of gender or sexualorientation; however, the ways in which they do so likely exhibit some differences. Thisadministrative supplement builds upon the parent study and seeks to explore the impact ofCOVID-19 and social distancing across time and caregiving groups. The proposedsupplemental study will involve re-interviewing previous respondents from the parent study toidentify similarities and differences in terms of what caregivers find challenging, and thestrategies they use to deal with these difficulties. Understanding the ways that COVID-19 andsocial distancing shape these caregiving experiences will provide much needed information oncaregiving performed by LG and heterosexual spouses/partners while also revealing howgender and sexual orientation shape what caregivers perceive to be challenging, the strategiesthey use to cope with these, and the resources they have available to them. Knowledge gainedfrom the study will have implications for both policy-makers and practitioners who seek todevelop effective interventions to support caregivers and prevent negative physical and mentalhealth outcomes.