If African American informal elder caregivers are marginalized, invisible and insignificant to formal eldercare and healthcare providers, will they self-identify as caregivers and advocate and leaders for their care recipients, or become proficient in their roles as elder caregivers? Informal elder caregivers have been referred to as secondary patients due to their need for protection and guidance, according to Reinhard, Given, Petlick, and Bernis (2008). Therefore, when health care providers who have the resources and training to assist African American informal elder caregivers, choose not to acknowledge their existence, this may contribute to healthcare disparities not only for their care recipients, but the elder caregiver as well. Similarly,
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Reinhard et al., (2008) state that elder caregivers spend an enormous amount of time with their care recipients, which requires their assistance and knowledge of a broad range of activities and responsibilities. Elder caregivers acquire a vast amount of responsibilities when they accept this role, but also opportunities to obtain many new skills and talents along the way. However, while attaining skills and talents, they may also endure strain to their own mental, physical health, and well-being (Reinhard et al., 2008). The authors share examples such as, providing assistance with bathing when the care recipient resists; giving a care recipient their medications several times a day when the care recipient may have multiple needs; making decisions on behalf of the care recipient regarding their finances, health or their overall wellbeing, while the caregiver concurrently stresses over making a wrong choice that may be detrimental to their care recipient (Reinhard et al., 2008). Unfortunately, formal eldercare providers and health care providers’ disregard convey a message that African American informal elder caregivers are incapable of being trusted in the role of caregiver (Reinhard & Choula, 2012), nor do they fit the image that the providers have of what a caregiver should look like or should be, which is a pattern of intersectional invisibility as well (Reinhard & Choula,
Reinhard et al., (2008) state that elder caregivers spend an enormous amount of time with their care recipients, which requires their assistance and knowledge of a broad range of activities and responsibilities. Elder caregivers acquire a vast amount of responsibilities when they accept this role, but also opportunities to obtain many new skills and talents along the way. However, while attaining skills and talents, they may also endure strain to their own mental, physical health, and well-being (Reinhard et al., 2008). The authors share examples such as, providing assistance with bathing when the care recipient resists; giving a care recipient their medications several times a day when the care recipient may have multiple needs; making decisions on behalf of the care recipient regarding their finances, health or their overall wellbeing, while the caregiver concurrently stresses over making a wrong choice that may be detrimental to their care recipient (Reinhard et al., 2008). Unfortunately, formal eldercare providers and health care providers’ disregard convey a message that African American informal elder caregivers are incapable of being trusted in the role of caregiver (Reinhard & Choula, 2012), nor do they fit the image that the providers have of what a caregiver should look like or should be, which is a pattern of intersectional invisibility as well (Reinhard & Choula,