Caregivers at Risk?: Changes in Leisure Participation

AbstractThis article examined the likelihood of reducing and/or ceasing leisure activities, reasons for these changes, and the relationship between caregivers' characteristics, caregiving experiences, and leisure participation among a sample of 517 informal caregivers of Adult Day Care clients in Manitoba, Canada. Reduction and cessation of leisure activities were considered separately and in combination. The results indicated that not all caregivers of these older adults changed their leisure participation although there was an at-risk group. A lack of time due to caregiving was the most frequently identified reason for a change. The relationship between caregiver characteristics, the caregiving experience, and leisure participation was complex and varied depending on the dimension of leisure participation examined. Implications for future research and practice are highlighted.KEYWORDS: Caregiversleisureleisure activitiesolder adultsbarriers