How
Extended is the Extended African-American Family?
The Case of Family Caregiving to Older African-Americans
Peggye Dilworth-Anderson,
Sharon Wallace Williams,
Paula Goodwin, and Theresa Cooper
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify, describe,
and explain extended family caregiving networks that African-American
families use to provide care to elderly family members. The extended
network was conceptualized to include four dimensions: different
kinds of kin and non-kin, different types of caregivers, a caregiver
substitution process, and different caregiving structures.
This study used a probability sample of 330 caregivers that included
187 primary caregivers that were connected to 79 secondary caregivers,
and 49 tertiary caregivers. Fifteen tertiary-only caregivers that
were not connected to other caregivers were also in the study. These
caregivers provided care to 202 older African-Americans. Caregivers
wer mostly blood kin, some chosen kin, and a few non-kin. More than
80% of all caregivers indicated a need to have caregiver substitutes
available in the network. The availability of caregiver substitutes
was greatest for primary caregivers as compared to other caregivers.
Caregivers created distinct caregiving structures that were primarily
collectivist as opposed to individualistic. These structures included
(1) primary, secondary, and tertiary, (2) primary and secondary,
(3) primary and tertiary; (4) primary only, (5) tertiary-only.
Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, Visiting
scholar, Institute for Policy Research; Department of Human Development
and Family Studies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Sharon Wallace Williams, Postdoctoral fellow,
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Paula Goodwin, Department of Human Development
and Family Studies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro Theresa Cooper, Department of Human Development
and Family Studies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
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