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BJSW Advance Access published online on March 27, 2008
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcn030
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved

Life after Caring: The Post-Caring Experiences of Former Carers

Mary Larkin

Dr Mary Larkin is a Senior Lecturer in the Social Work and Health Studies Division at De Montfort University, Leicester. The findings presented and discussed in this article formed part of her doctoral thesis on the experiences of former carers. Her research interests include the impact of caring on peoples' lives, post-caring in particular and, more generally, the lives of vulnerable groups in health and social care

Correspondence to Dr Mary Larkin, De Montfort University, Social Work and Health Studies Division, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Hawthorn Building, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK. Email: mlarkin{at}dmu.ac.uk


  Abstract

This qualitative study was informed by grounded theory and data were gathered primarily through semi-structured in-depth interviews with thirty-seven theoretically sampled former carers. They were all white British, lived in the East Midlands and were predominately over sixty (68 per cent) and female (70 per cent). With the exception of one, all had cared for a close relative, 65 per cent having cared for a partner/spouse. Most of their dependants were older adults and each case the cessation of caring had coincided with the death of the dependant. The findings showed that post-caring life for the interviewees had an identifiable trajectory with three phases—the ‘post-caring void’, ‘closing down "the caring time"‘and ‘constructing life post-caring’. Each of these phases involved a distinct set of experiences. In addition, the study established that 70 per cent of those in the sample had cared more than once. Thus, two new concepts—'the post-caring trajectory' and the ‘serial carer’—were developed to reflect these findings. Suggestions are made about ways in which policy, practice and further research can be developed in order to ensure there is effective provision for those who have ceased caring.

Keywords: Caring, former carers, post-caring experiences, post-caring trajectory, serial caring


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