Older adults of Mexican-origin are disproportionately burdened with type 2 diabetes and are almost twice as likely to have the disease when compared to whites of similar age.[1] Regular diabetes care including a healthy diet, exercise, and appropriate use of medications is essential for elders that are affected by this disease. However, little is known about how elders and their families manage type 2 diabetes within the home setting. This paper seeks to qualitatively describe the process of how diabetes care is administered in the home environment by examining the interpersonal interaction of Mexican-origin caregivers and care-receiver elders. In-home observations of six caregiver-care receiver dyads living in East Los Angeles were conducted over a 4 month period. Observation field notes describing the behavioral characteristics of each dyad were collected, coded, and analyzed for patterns, utilizing the qualitative data analysis software program Atlas. Ti. Results should produce data sets that reveal reoccurring themes across dyads, which will be used to examine the pattern and range of diabetic care and assistance that was provided to the elders by their family caregivers.
[1] Sandra A. Block et al., “The Prevalence and Health Burden of Self-Reported Diabetes in Older Mexican Americans”, American Journal of Public Health, 1999 April, 89(4), 546-552.