“I Am Not Sure What Else I Could Do to Help Her More”: Perceptions of Partner Support in Older Couples Living with Multiple Chronic Conditions

Spouses are a major support in managing multiple chronic conditions (MCC) in middle and later life, but little is known about perceptions of partner support patterns within couples. We examined perceptions of partner support patterns and satisfaction with partner support among older couples where both partners lived with MCC. Both partners in 51 couples completed separate phone interviews with open-ended questions about managing MCC and partner support. We categorized participating couples as discordant (n = 20) or concordant (n = 31) in their views of partner support. Our qualitative content analysis revealed that discordant couples wanted more mutual partner support, communication about health and support needs, engagement in health-related activities, and no desired changes. Concordant couples wanted more mutual partner support, working together to manage MCC, better partner self-management, and no desired changes. These findings inform targeted interventions for couples with MCC and emphasize exploring perceptions of partner support patterns.