Experiences of adult children caring for parents aging in place

The rapid rise of the older adult population has increased the need for family caregiving. Adult children caring for their aging parents are exposed to a range of stressors, and their experiences shape care outcomes. We aim to describe these experiences using a grounded theory approach and develop a theory based on our findings. The inclusion criteria were adult children of any age who had provided care for at least one year to one or both parents, including parents-in-law, in a home setting. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling from community centers for older adults and churches. Espousing the grounded theory approach that often relies on interviews as a primary data collection method, 22 semi-structured personal interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was completed using the NVivo software. The challenge-acceptance theory was developed through open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and continuous analysis of the data. The care recipients were aged 65 years and above. The caregivers' experiences were summarized as a complex and dynamic process with negative and positive aspects, ranging from an increased level of stress and anxiety due to uncertainties of caregiving to the profound meaning and fulfillment experienced during the caregiving process. The results of the coding process consisted of four themes: the unknown, the need for effective communication, aging parents' behavior, and caregiving. The resulting grounded theory, the challenge-acceptance theory, explains how caregivers transition from caregiving challenges to accepting the challenges. Caregivers struggle with caring for aging parents and experience severe stress, which may affect their health. Healthcare professionals should proactively identify and address these issues before significantly impacting caregivers' health. Adequate communication with caregivers, provision of helpful resources, and promotion of proactive caregiving strategies can reduce caregiver burden and stress.