‘Ageing-in-place’: Frontline experiences of intergenerational family carers of people with dementia

Abstract

The success of ‘ageing-in-place’ aged care policy in Australia relies heavily on the unpaid work of informal carers. While there is a wealth of research regarding informal carers more generally, we know relatively little about the experiences of the ‘sandwich generation: Adult children (mainly daughters) who provide care for a parent while often juggling paid work and the care of their own children or grandchildren. In this paper I undertake a critical analysis of ‘ageing-in-place’ policy through the lens of‘sandwich generation carers of people with dementia. Drawing from a composite case study, I argue that these carers are located at the interstices of powerful discourses such as ‘individualisation and ‘care’ and explore how the everyday practice of care is negotiated within these spaces. Inhabiting these spaces can be costly for carers and we need to consider how policies can better support intergenerational carers if ‘ageing-in-place’ is to be sustainable.

Keywords:

• aged care policy
• informal carers
• dementia
• ageing-in-place
• ageing
• sociology