Impact on the Marriage When One Spouse Moves to a Nursing Home

Contradictions of interaction for wives of elderly husbands with adult dementia

“…On one hand, they are still married and therefore part of a couple; while, on the other, they are alone and disengaging as they pregrieve the loss of their partners. Moreover, the responsibilities of marriage for the well spouse can actually increase as they assume new roles and tasks that had been previously handled by the institutionalized spouse (Ade-Ridder & Kaplan, 1993;Braithwaite, 2002;Kaplan & Ade-Ridder, 1991;Rollins et al, 1985). Yet, in assuming these new roles and mastering new tasks, they simultaneously begin a life of independence from their spouses (Rollins et al, 1985).…”

“…A few studies have examined how women, after their spouses moved to nursing homes, reestablished equilibrium (Kaplan & Ade-Ridder, 1991) and (re)defined their sense of couplehood (Braithwaite, 2002;Kaplan, Ade-Ridder, Hennon, Brubaker, & Brubaker, 1995). These studies give us insight into how spouses vary in the negotiation of their situated identity of married widowhood.…”

Transition in care: family carers′ experience of nursing home placement

“…1996). Hence nurses remain ignorant of the stress experienced by family carers during the transition phase of their relative into a long‐term care facility — family carers are the ‘hidden clients’ (Kaplan & Ade‐ridder 1991, Bowers 1988, Vinton & Mazza 1994).…”

‘… well i got no option’: Consumer perspective on discharge planning to residential aged care

“…Care-giver stress is related to the stigma associated with nursing home placement (Ell and Northen 1990, p. 211), concern about quality of care in nursing homes and finding an appropriate place (Zarit and Whitlatch 1992) and involves ongoing stress following relocation (Kaplan andAde-Ridder 1991 andZarit andWhitlatch 1992).…”

“…ANY frail elderly people are admitted to M residential care facilities from acute hospitals and both they and their families are likely to experience considerable stress in relation to this transition (Zarit & Whitlatch 1992, Kaplan & Ade-Ridder 1991, Brody 1977. This stress is exacerbated by the limited choice of residential care facilities and economic rationalist health policies which put pressure on staff to discharge patients from the acute hospital as soon as possible.…”