Canada Research Chairs at Brock<\/a> to 13.<\/p>\n\u201cEnsuring the health and well-being of older adults, and those who care for them, is a growing priority as our population ages,\u201d says Acting Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gratifying to see the Canada Research Chairs Program recognize Dr. Zwar\u2019s scholarship, which will have significant impact on the ways we care for the caregivers.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a CRC, Zwar will be pursuing her research on how different forms of stigma impact informal long-term care for older adults.<\/p>\n
Zwar defines care-related stigma as the stereotypes, attitudes and discrimination people encounter \u2014 either from society, their families or their own beliefs \u2014 as they care for older adults.<\/p>\n
She says her research aims to better understand how stigma associated with informal long-term care for older adults contributes to caregivers\u2019 and care recipients\u2019 risk, resilience and decision-making about caregiving.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstanding these mechanisms is essential to support caregivers\u2019 well-being and ability to access and integrate support,\u201d says Zwar. \u201cThese findings will help us to develop care concepts that are sustainable and sensitive to these beliefs and different needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her research will explore how care-related stigma intersects with other forms of prejudice, such as racism, ageism and sexism, to influence how much caregivers rely on outside help and how it relates to the often-reported stress and guilt experienced by caregivers, says Zwar.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people think, \u2018I should restrict my hobbies and free time so that I can spend more time providing care\u2019,\u201d says Zwar. \u201cCaregivers don\u2019t really put these stereotypes into words, but in conversation with them, it becomes clear that they have an idea of what they believe they should do, and that they often feel like they\u2019re not fulfilling those criteria.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zwar\u2019s work also looks at the experiences of caregivers who are themselves older adults, and on other systematically marginalized and minoritized groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Zwar\u2019s research is particularly relevant for the Niagara region, where almost one-quarter of our population is over the age of 65 years,\u201d says Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s vital we give older adults the best and most compassionate care possible when they need it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, says those who provide informal long-term care for older adults are often overlooked or misunderstood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough Dr. Zwar\u2019s work, we\u2019ll better understand the experience of caregivers, which can lead to supports for them and their families,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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