Abstract

Long-married spouses provide a crucial role in the provision of care and support to chronically ill spouses. Elderly spouse care may be distinguished by features such as co-resident care, the greater likelihood of providing significant intimate and personal care, and both partners experiencing significant health problems. The trajectory of care in the context of long-term marriage relationships may include rapid alterations in the ways in which care is defined, who undertakes care for whom, and the nature of the caring role. Drawing on data from a research project that explored the impact of chronic illness and disability on long-established marital relationships, this article explores some of the complexities of ‘care giving’ in the context of long-term marriage. It goes on to consider the practice challenges associated with assessment and intervention with long-married couples. The impact of a managerialist agenda on practice is considered and the importance of a critical gerontological social work approach is introduced.