This is Their Story: Caregiving from an African-american Perspective

Caring for a loved one can be rewarding; however, with this sense of gratification comes exceptional challenges to one''s lifestyle, mental health, and financial stability. Although there is some research on the African-American caregiver, there is a dearth of literature that addresses their perceptions and lived experiences in the care-giving role. Nancy Lee utilizes Fisher''s (1985) narrative paradigm to frame this study of twelve African-American caregivers who share their care giving stories, through in-depth personal interviews. The author discusses the relevant literature on the African-American caregiver, to include the physical and emotional effects of care-giving, support systems utilized by African-American caregivers, and ethnic influences in the care-giving experience. Twelve themes emerged utilizing thematic analysis. The role of communication among the care giver, care recipient and extended family members makes this a "must read" for social workers, health care providers and health care communicators. Lee, herself, was a caregiver for over ten years.