The purpose of this study is to identify role transitions among family members as they try to deal with health issues. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with married couples. Five patients who had cerebrovascular disease or who were receiving hemodialysis treatment and their spouses were interviewed on the patients' admission to and after their discharge from the hospital. Family roles were divided into the following categories : housekeeper, financial supporter, child care and patient care provider, emotional supporter, leader, and ancestor worshiper. Time series observations were made on role transitions in the families. The results are as shown below :
1) In one family with preschool children and another with teenagers, grandparents shared the housework and child care when one of the parents was hospitalized. In two families with grown children and one with middle-aged parents, children shared the housework and patient care.
In each case, after the patient was discharged from the hospital, all roles were assumed mainly by either one of the parents or one of the members of the family.
2) Regardless of the stage of family development or which parent was hospitalized, the caregiver in the family usually lost his/her role as a financial supporter as health issues occurred.
3) The emotional supporter in the family was influenced by his/her additional role of patient caregiver.
4) In the families with grown children or middle-aged parents, the occurrence of health care issues tended to bring about shifts in roles and in leadership, from the parents' generation to the children's.
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