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Work and Eldercare: Reciprocity Between Older Mothers and Their Employed Daughters*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Janice M. Keefe  and
Pamela J. Fancey
Janice M. Keefe*
Affiliation:
Mount Saint Vincent University
Pamela J. Fancey
Affiliation:
Mount Saint Vincent University
*
Requests, etc., Janice M. Keefe Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Family Studies and Gerontology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax NS B3M 2J6. janice.keefe@msvu.ca
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Abstract

This research broadens the understanding of the relationship between paid work and caregiving by including the contribution of the older “care recipient”. Using selected aspects of social exchange theory and a life course perspective, the importance of giving and receiving for caregivers and care recipients is explored through analyses of focus groups with employed women and interviews with their older mothers. The mothers and daughters focus on the time when they are most indebted to each other. The daughter's employment affects the type and value of contributions from care recipients. The mother's past assistance with housework and caring for children is greatly valued by the daughters. For care recipients, however, being reliant on a busy employee for their care has negative consequences. The mothers emphasize the current situation and under-estimate their past helping. Further research should consider the care recipient's perspective to obtain a broader understanding of the impact of the caregiver's employment in caregiving relationships.

Résumé

Cette recherche élargit la compréhension de la relation entre le travail rémunéré et la prestation de soins en incluant la vision du soigné. À partir de certains aspects de la théorie de l'échange social et de la perspective d'une vie, on a exploré l'importance de donner et de recevoir par le biais de groupes de discussion composés de femmes au travail et à l'aide d'interviews auprès des mères prestataires de soins. Les mères et les filles posent un regard sur une période où chacune se sent le plus redevable l'une envers l'autre. Le travail rémunéré de la fille influe sur le type et la valeur de la contribution aux yeux de la mère qui reçoit les soins. L'aide aux tâches domestiques et aux soins des enfants accordée dans le passé par les mères est grandement valorisée par les filles. Pour les mères soignées cependant, devoir compter sur une femme déjà sur le marché du travail entraîne des conséquences négatives. Les mères accordent une grande importance à la situation en cours et sous-estiment l'aide qu'elles ont autrefois apportée. D'éventuelles recherches devraient prendre en compte la perspective des prestataires de soins et l'on pourrait ainsi obtenir un meilleur tableau de l'impact de l'emploi rémunéré des soignantes sur leur relation avec les soignées.

Keywords

CaregivingReciprocityWork and EldercareIntergenerational RelationshipsWomenPrestation de soinsréciprocitéemploi et soins des ainé(e)srelations intergénérationnellesfemmes
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , Summer/Été 2002 , pp. 229 - 241
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2002

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Footnotes

**The authors gratefully acknowledge support from The Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Max Bell Foundation, and Mount Saint Vincent University
*

Revised version of a paper presented at the Annual Scientific and Educational Meetings of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Halifax, N.S., October 14–16, 1998

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