Socialization to the family caregiving role within a continuing care retirement community

Although family members provide the bulk of care given to infirm elderly in the United States (Brody 1990), little is known about the process of socialization to the informal caregiver role. What represents "appropriate" care to a family caregiver, and how does he or she learn to provide it? The "culture of caregiving" that developed among family caregivers of persons with dementia within one continuing care retirement community is discussed. The social norms that defined appropriate care and the process of conveying these norms through role models, information networks, and feedback in response to "deviant" caregiving behavior are described. Implications for caregiver education and support programs are discussed.