Male carers need care too
An increasing number of older men are becoming their partner’s carer, but research reported by Genelle Weule on ABC online, suggests they need more practical support.
Already men over 65 are more likely to be caring for a partner with dementia than women of the same age.
But we know little about the experiences of older husbands who provide at-home care for their wives with dementia.
“There is an increasing number of males who are providing support for spouses in particular. These tend to be older husbands,” says Associate Professor Peter Brown from Charles Darwin University.
“The average age of males is increasing and the average number of men moving into the mid-old and old-old group is increasing significantly as well, so more males are available to provide care.”
To gain an insight into the specific needs men had as carers, he interviewed 17 older male carers over 65, then surveyed a further 71 older male carers about their approach to care giving.
The survey also asked questions about their level of family support, access to professional support services, and the husbands’ level of independent living skills prior to their wives’ illness.
A vast majority of the men reported performing between 80-100% of their wives’ care.
At least 40% of the men surveyed experienced symptoms of depression and 23% were depressed, Associate Professor Brown found.
“One of the central findings is the need for health professionals to identify males who are at risk of breakdown, being overwhelmed, institutionalising their wives too early, not being able to manage,” he says.
He found that those older male carers who were more likely to experience depression perceived care giving as being like a job, avoided coming to terms with their wives’ illness and its consequences for them as carers, and had difficulty contacting relatives and friends for help.
