Changes in activities of wives caring for their husbands following XXXX .

@entity1 @entity64
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of caregivers of @entity1 with @entity64 with respect to their own physical activity. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive approach was used to study 10 caregivers of @entity1 with @entity64 , recruited from a @entity64 exercise class in a large urban rehabilitation facility. Caregivers participated in individual, semi-structured interviews that were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a constant comparative method. An inductive, iterative approach was applied to determine the codes and themes. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: change in role, change in activity, barriers to activity and health, and change in meaning of activity. Barriers to activity included guilt, time, and energy. @entity1 revealed that activity became more therapeutic after @entity64 and that @entity1 preferred purposeful, functional, and partnered activities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the importance of the husband-wife dyad and of movement toward a family-centred care approach. Education should be provided to caregivers regarding their role, barriers, and health-promoting activities. Future research should focus on determining appropriate physical-activity programmes for caregivers as well as on evaluating implementation of partnered exercise programmes for caregivers and @entity1 with @entity64 .
