ABSTRACT

THE JOURNEY BEYOND CAREGIVING: NAVIGATING IDENTITY RECONSTRUCTION FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF A CARE RECIPIENT

Maurice Haskins, LCSW-C

As populations around the world continue to age, the role of family caregivers has become increasingly vital in helping older adults navigate health, aging, and community living. While extensive research has addressed the experiences of active caregivers, significantly less attention has been given to the post-caregiving period—particularly the identity shifts that occur after the death of a care recipient. This study seeks to understand how former caregivers make sense of their caregiving experiences, how their identities are affected by the caregiving journey, and how they reconstruct meaning and purpose in the aftermath of loss.

Using a qualitative methodology, this study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to examine in-depth interviews with eight adult participants who had provided care to an older family member (aged 65 or above). Grounded in Identity Theory, Caregiver Identity Theory, and the Meaning Reconstruction Model, the study explores how caregiving functions not only as a task but as a transformative identity event. Six superordinate themes emerged from the data: (1) Identity Transformation through Caregiving, (2) Familial Duty and Moral Obligation, (3) Emotional and Physical Strain, (4) Grief and Immediate Identity Disruption, (5) Long-Term Identity Reconstruction, and (6) Reflections and Wisdom for Future Caregivers. These themes illustrate how caregiving roles often become central to one’s sense of self, with participants reporting a profound loss of identity following the death of the care recipient. However, participants also described a gradual process of rebuilding—one shaped by reflection, meaning-making, and continued emotional bonds with the care recipient.

The findings affirm that caregiving is not a finite role but a life-defining experience with lasting personal, relational, and emotional impacts. They highlight the need for extended support services, targeted bereavement interventions, and policy reforms that recognize the enduring nature of the caregiving identity. This study contributes to a growing body of literature that calls for a holistic, identity-informed understanding of the caregiver experience—before, during, and after caregiving ends.