Browsing by Author "Wilcox, Karen L."

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    Caregivers of Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Information and Support Needs
    Wilcox, Karen L.; Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary; Winston, Brianne L. (Virginia Tech, 2004-11)
    One of the newer concepts of age-related memory deficit is mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI reflects self-reported changes in cognitive function that do not necessarily interfere with work or social relations; it is viewed as a transitional phase between normal cognitive aging and dementia. Researchers and practitioners lack a comprehensive understanding of what relatives of persons with MCI are actually experiencing and what they realistically believe would be helpful to manage their situation now and in the future. In a multi-method, mini-longitudinal design that incorporated quantitative and qualitative approaches, we collected information from patient charts and semi-structured family interviews to investigate the information and support needs of 20 (out of 100 to be interviewed) family members of older adults with MCI. We found that, apart from information available about potential later diagnoses such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, families reported having little information available to them to assist in decision making and caregiving for early stages of memory loss. Family members were hesitant to think about and plan very far into the future and were more likely to take things a day at a time. Past experiences with family members or friends with memory difficulties or other serious health conditions enabled some family members to feel more at ease and knowledgeable with the process of seeking help for themselves and the older adult they were supporting. Findings suggest that earlier identification of memory loss has implications for clinical practice and the delivery of health care and social services to older individuals and their relatives.
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    The Influence of Mild Cognitive Impairment on Marital Relationships
    Winston, Brianne L.; Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary; Wilcox, Karen L. (Virginia Tech, 2005)
    Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) signifies age-related memory decline that is less severe than with dementia. Most scholarship focuses on the clinical diagnosis and prevalence of MCI; the psychosocial aspects have been studied less often. Thus the purpose of this research was to examine the influence of MCI on interactions among long-term married couples. Methods: Using qualitative methodology, 10 spouses (5 wives, 5 husbands) of community-dwelling persons diagnosed with MCI reported on shared couple activities, amount of time spent together, division of household tasks, and management of everyday life. Transcripts were analyzed through an open coding process and results are represented by case studies. Results: The interviews revealed both stability and change within marital relationships when spouses are faced with MCI. Emergent themes focused on relational interactions (e.g., disclosure, negative and positive emotional outcomes, shared activities), relational dynamics (e.g., power, “couplehood”), socio-emotional intimacy (e.g., companionship, support, concern), and household responsibilities (e.g., external help, equal division of labor, spouse assumes most responsibility, person with MCI has assigned duties). Conclusions: Findings indicate that dealing with a spouse with MCI yields difficult emotional responses including helplessness, frustration, sadness, and worry. Spouses also expressed positive outcomes (e.g., commitment, love, emotional closeness) when discussing their relationship with their partner. Additional research is needed on the most effective coping strategies in the face of an uncertain prognosis and perceived changes in marital interactions. Practitioners should attend to the unique stressors and strains of having a spouse impaired by early memory loss and the potential for changing marital dynamics.
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    Privilege in Families: Complexity in Adult Sibling Relationships
    Wilcox, Karen L. (Virginia Tech, 1998-07-12)
    The purpose of this study was to examine privilege in families and uncover the complexities of sibling relationships in adulthood. Through interviewing 13 adult siblings and 3 mothers from 4 families my goal was to gain a clearer picture of what privilege in families means. The sample consisted of a family with 3 sisters, a family with 3 brothers and a sister, a family with 4 brothers, and a family with 2 brothers and a sister. The adult siblings ranged in age from 30 to 60, with an average age of 42. The mothers ranged in age from 62 to 70, with an average age of 67. The study was guided by three theoretical frameworks: a life course, a phenomenological, and a feminist perspective. I conducted this study utilizing an integration of qualitative and feminist methodologies. I used a snowball sampling technique to recruit participants. Data were collected through the use of qualitative in-depth interviews. The interview guides were developed based on the research questions, the review of literature, and the theories guiding the study. I draw 5 conclusions from this study. First, there is a sense of devotion to family that is both expected and fulfilled by simply spending time together, being there for each other in times of need, and at times compromising personal needs or wants. Second, there is an overarching sense of justice that is discussed in everyday language, but at the same time referred to as "something we don't ever think about." Third, descriptions of having a continuous bond among siblings is verbalized as "being the same but different" or just feeling "something in the air," while at the same time mourning the absense of something that is "gone forever." Fourth, interviewing multiple family members extends the understanding of the difficulty of taking different stories heard by each family member and fitting them together into a "family photo." Finally, maintaining an awareness of what it is like to try to "speak for your family" has a different meaning when you also hold the knowledge that everyone else is doing the same thing--but different.