| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Family support groups (FSG) have been recognized as an important and viable means for responding to the needs of family caregivers. How these groups work, however, is not well understood. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to explore the impact of attending a family support group on the caregiving experience from the perspective of the family member. Personal, semi-structured interviews took place with eleven family members who had participated in at least one FSG. Data was analyzed for themes, using a constant comparative categorizing strategy. This analysis suggests that attending a FSG impacts the caregiving experience in four important ways: helping the family member to construct a self-identity as a ‘caregiver’; promoting a sense of personal competence; fostering the use of formal support groups; and creating a community context within which to experience the caregiving role. Cumulatively, these have the potential to contribute to a sense of empowerment for the family member by helping him or her to reposition the caregiving experience as more than a personal issue and promoting the emergence of a more collective voice. |
