The food-related role shift experiences of spousal male care partners and their wives with dementia

Spousal male care partners and their wives with dementia encounter challenges as they deal with food-related role changes. There are limited studies describing male care partners who adopt food roles previously performed by their wives and none have described this process from the perspective of the women who lose these food roles. This study explores the experiences of nine male care partners and their wives as they adjust to these role changes. Theoretically sampled participants were interviewed (dyad and individually) as part of the Eating Together (Phase 1) study. Using grounded theory methodology, 3 years of interview data from these participants were analysed. The substantive theory developed describes the process of sliding into food-related roles. This shifting of roles is driven by the need to reciprocate nurturance. Spousal couples reciprocate nurturance by keeping standards and watching over one another. Additionally, they navigate through the sliding into food role process by coming to terms with the need for food-related role changes and working things out. Spousal couples find the process of sliding into roles less challenging when they were successful in promoting each others' self-worth and preserving identities throughout the process. This study shows the need to provide support to male care partners and their wives with dementia, especially in the area of food roles.