Always Caring: The Gendered Realities of Spousal Home Care for Older Adults in the Community

The choice to age in a familiar home environment within the community without relying on residential services can prolong independence, provided care services are customised to the specific needs of the household. However, this model of care provision frequently conceals the hidden costs for women who are often the spousal carer. The navigation of care needs of a spouse when aged 65 and above often contains challenges linked to accessing quality community care and respite. These challenges are further compounded by the impact of personal health realities that come with ageing. To explore the support needs of older adults choosing to remain in their own homes, qualitative semi-structured interviews took place with 26 individuals aged 65 plus. This article concentrates on a specific subset of research using constructivist grounded theory to examine the caregiving realities of six women and one man. A significant finding was that these predominantly female carers often felt unsupported, fatigued, and time-poor, largely attributable to the scale of care needed. Formal care support was particularly valued when it prioritised relationships over task-oriented care. A key recommendation to enable couples to remain living at home and avoid residential care is that more support for spousal (informal) carers is required.