ABSTRACT
The above fictitious situation demonstrates only a few of the dilemmas faced by contemporary long-distance caregivers as the boundaries of their many life roles become blurred. These caregivers often lead complicated lives. Like Doris, they attempt to incorporate managing care from afar, often including travel to their loved one’s place of residence, into their already busy work and home lives. In this chapter we explore the intersecting worlds of family and work through the lens of geographic distance. In chapter 6, Phillips and Bernard introduce the reader to concepts that are central to understanding the role played by geographic distance in the “blurring of boundaries” between work and family. Here we address several issues specific to long-distance care. As American scholars, we rely primarily upon findings based on studies conducted in the United States, but we draw on research conducted in other countries as well.
