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The Experience of Chronically Ill Elderly Mexican-American Men With Spouses as Caregivers

ABSTRACT Chronic illnesses are projected to affect 157 million individuals in the United States by the year 2020. Few studies have investigated the experience of chronic illnesses in minority groups. The purpose of this phenomenological pilot study was to illuminate the lived experience of three chronically ill elderly Mexican-American males who received caregiving from their spouses. The major themes that emerged were: (1) I'm losing control of my life (2) I wish I were a better husband, and (3) I don't know what I'm good for. These themes were described within the Model of Human Occupation and demonstrate strong influence of culture on the perceptions of men. Areas for intervention are the promotion of an internal locus of control, engagement in occupation, and role exploration. Future studies are needed to explore chronic diseases in Mexican-American men that will help occupational therapists plan culturally appropriate interventions.