Abstract
Caregiving is at the heart of family life. Parents care for children, spouses care for each other, and, when illness or disability occurs, family members care for each other. At least 80 % of primary caregivers for individuals with severe disabilities are family members. Families affected by a disability experience a host of relational opportunities and challenges. In this chapter, we will discuss factors that shape family dynamics in caregiving for individuals with disabilities related to chronic illness, trauma, or congenital conditions and how clinicians, educators, researchers, and policymakers can promote health family dynamics.
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Notes
- 1.
In this chapter, we often refer to “illness and disability” together. These terms are not technically interchangeable. Illness does not always lead to disability, and many disabilities are not a result of illness. We have chosen an inclusive stance toward defining our focus of study for several reasons. First, many of the family dynamics we address pertain to circumstances in which one or more individuals in a family experiences a change in physical functioning, irrespective of the source. Second, from a conceptual and political level, we believe there is much to be gained for families when those with caregiving needs unite around common concerns. Finally, much of our clinical experience and previous writing has focused on families and chronic illness and we wished to draw from that knowledge base.
- 2.
This description is of an actual case. Details of the family have been camouflaged to protect their confidentiality.
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McDaniel, S., Pisani, A. (2012). Family Dynamics and Caregiving for People with Disabilities. In: Talley, R., Crews, J. (eds) Multiple Dimensions of Caregiving and Disability. Caregiving: Research • Practice • Policy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3384-2_2
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