Lonely journey: Lived experiences of daughters and daughters-in-law caring for aging parents

The purpose of this phenomenological research was to explore the lived experiences of daughters and daughters-in-law who care for aging parents at home. Interviews were conducted with four daughters and two daughters-in-law. The interviews were audiotaped and the researcher conducted observational field notes. The interviews were utilized for data-collection and then transcribed into text. The researcher followed van Manen's method. Essential themes were frustration, anger, guilt, lack of social life, effects on jobs and family support as described by the participants. Variant themes unfolded as themes not shared by all the participants: care for the caregiver, education for the caregiver, being a detective, coming out of his shell, like a robot, reference of aging parent as a patient and judgment by others. The researcher uncovered interpretive themes of unconditional devotion, struggling with childlike mannerism, everlasting vigilance and ambivalence through a paradoxical view. Lonely journey surfaced as the metatheme.