The stress associated with caring for an impaired elderly family member has been well documented. Spousal caregivers in particular may jeopardize their own health while attempting to meet the demands of caregiving. Formal support services have been developed and are aimed at reducing the stress associated with caregiving. However, simply providing services does not ensure utilization. Research documents the low utilization of services by the elderly, particularly spousal caregivers, but fails to explain it adequately. The author explores the gaps in current understanding of the issues and identifies the subjective meaning associated with service use as an important but overlooked determinant of service utilization. Selected case studies demonstrate the importance of this understanding for effective intervention.
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