Lessons Learned in a Feasibility Study With U.S. Women Caregivers of Mexican Origin

With the rapidly aging Hispanic/Latino population in the United States and the traditional caregiving roles of women in this culture, it is critical to study caregiving stress in the largest yet understudied subgroup-women caregivers of Mexican origin. This descriptive feasibility study aimed to adapt a research protocol to examine the impact of long-term caregiving stress on coronary heart disease risk among women caregivers of Mexican origin, using the allostatic load model and the Framingham Risk Score. A purposive sample of 20 women providing family care to a dependent older relative for at least 24 hours per week over the past 6 months was recruited through community networks, home health care agencies, promotoras, the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, and hospital outpatient services in a U.S.-Mexico border city. Multiple approaches were employed, including structured interviews and the collection of biological samples. Key adjustments included refining terminology to align with participants' preferences, managing complex data collection, and adjusting recruitment criteria to reflect cultural norms. COVID-19-related delays necessitated further adaptations, including proactive licensing management and alternative recruitment strategies. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were revised multiple times to better reflect family caregiving dynamics, ensuring continuity despite staff turnover and rising costs due to the study's extended duration and inflation. By addressing these challenges, we laid the groundwork for research on long-term caregiving among women of Mexican origin. Future research will focus on developing preventive interventions to reduce caregiving stress and coronary heart disease risk, ultimately supporting aging-in-place for dependent older adults in their care.