Being a man who cares : experiences of rural male caregivers who care for spouses with dementia in southern and central Alberta

Abstract

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand how male caregivers of spouses with dementia in rural southern and central Alberta perceive their role as a caregiver. Informed by the theoretical framework of masculinity theory, this research describes how rural masculinity is conceptualized and expressed by male spousal caregivers. Themes were created, with all themes and sub-themes being connected to the core category of separating the wheat from the chaff. Rural Male Caregiving Theory is a substantive theory that describes the perceptions and experiences of rural male caregivers. The research findings and how they are similar and contribute to the current literature on rural male caregiving is discussed. The findings from this research study will assist health care professionals in understanding what male caregivers are experiencing when in a caregiving role.