Informal care for the disabled elderly. A critique of recent literature.

Most studies of informal care for the disabled elderly are based on structured interviews, which are analyzed statistically, and they focus on two issues that lend themselves to quantification--the tasks caregivers perform and the stress they experience. The focus on chores restricts researchers' understanding of the experience of caregivers. Task-oriented research may be particularly inappropriate for an activity dominated by women. Because stress has critical implications for public health, researchers have attempted to identify caregivers most at risk of stress and to evaluate interventions. Although these studies have provided useful information for practitioners, the preoccupation with stress compels researchers to miss essential aspects of the caregiving experience and restricts the range of policy recommendations. Researchers should employ qualitative, as well as quantitative, methodologies and should incorporate the theoretical insights of a wide range of disciplines. Because scholars in the field of women's studies have directed considerable attention to personal relationships and caregiving issues, their writings may be especially useful for charting an agenda for research.