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Browsing College of Nursing by Author "Hall, Steven"
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Item Queer Caregiving: A Scoping Review of the Lived Experiences of LGBTQ+ Caregivers of Older Adults(Oxford Abstracts, 2023-10-27) Dyck, Darien; Hall, Steven; Hubbard Murdoch, Natasha; Stacey, AdamThe aging population coincides with a higher demand for informal caregivers. An expanding LGBTQ+ community worldwide is accompanied by an increasing number of LGBTQ+ caregivers of older adults. However, the experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ caregivers remain poorly understood within the healthcare system. This scoping review compiles literature that highlights the unique challenges, needs, and support systems required by LGBTQ+ caregivers. We used Arksey & O’Malley’s five-step iterative scoping review methodology and identified relevant studies through a search of three electronic databases conducted on May 11, 2023. A total of 57 items were included in this review: 13 quantitative studies, 22 qualitative studies, 6 mixed methods studies, 2 scoping reviews, 1 literature review, and 13 grey literature records. Researcher interactions with participants included surveys and questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and a support group intervention. Using thematic analysis, we identified five major themes: LGBTQ+ caregivers are highly active in providing informal care; queer caregiving has unique complexities; LGBTQ+ caregivers want to feel recognized and understood; caregiving can be overwhelming; and challenges navigating heteronormative health systems. This scoping review highlighted the distinct experiences of LGBTQ+ caregivers and their specific support needs as individuals and as a caregiver of older adults. Findings from this review emphasize the importance of healthcare professionals receiving comprehensive LGBTQ+ focused education to better understand and support LGBTQ+ caregivers. Further research is needed to address the gaps in knowledge, provide effective interventions, and draft policies to support LGBTQ+ caregivers.Item The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study: Implications for Research, Practice, and Policy(2023-04-25) Hall, Steven; Rohatinsky, Noelle; Holtslander, Lorraine; Peacock, ShelleyBackground: A total of 70-80% of community care for older adults is provided by informal or family caregivers. With Canada’s aging population, the number of caregivers to older adults is growing. The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study gathered perspectives and mapped the experiences of caregivers in Saskatchewan and identified their priority support needs. Method: In this qualitative descriptive study, an online qualitative survey asked three open-ended questions regarding: (1) the challenges that caregivers experience; (2) the positive aspects of caregiving; (3) the support needs and priorities of Saskatchewan caregivers. Content analysis was the method used for data analysis. Results: 355 caregivers responded to the survey. The challenges Saskatchewan caregivers reported experiencing are exhaustion, living their own lives, navigating complex systems, self-doubt, and caregiving at a distance. Positive aspects were related to the rewards of caregiving, having the ability and opportunity to care, ensuring quality care for the care recipient, and the experience of personal growth through being a caregiver. Support priorities were help when they need it, an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on, assistance in optimizing the care recipient’s health, having healthcare professionals that care, and improved policies, legislations, and regulations. Discussion: The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study has implications for research, practice, and policy. Caregivers to older adults have previously shared an interest in research engagement. Researchers should capitalize on this interest by co-creating solutions to improve the caregiver experience. In practice, recognition of the caregiver experience by healthcare professionals is essential in planning services to support care recipients and caregivers in ways that are meaningful and effective. In policy, leveraging informal care in place of institutional long-term care has become a key strategy in maintaining healthcare system sustainability. Findings from this study can be used to adapt policies to improve the support that caregivers to older adults receive and facilitate positive aging in the community. Conclusion: By mapping the Saskatchewan caregiver experience, this study can help to inform how communities, governments, and our healthcare system can best support caregivers in their role.