Why Older Asian Immigrants Care for Spouses with Dementia
Author Information
Author(s): Kim Julie, Lee Jung-Ah
Primary Institution: University of California Irvine
Hypothesis
Structural forces influence caregiving responsibilities in Asian immigrant families rather than cultural expectations.
Conclusion
Spousal caregivers in Asian immigrant families do not expect high levels of support from their adult children, contrary to cultural assumptions.
Supporting Evidence
- Spouses in Asian immigrant families often take on caregiving roles similar to daughters and daughters-in-law.
- Cultural expectations of filial piety do not align with the caregiving dynamics observed in this study.
Takeaway
This study shows that in some Asian immigrant families, it's often the spouses who take care of each other instead of their children, and this is influenced by their living situation and resources.
Methodology
Content analysis of home visit logs from community health workers visiting spousal caregivers.
Participant Demographics
14 Korean immigrant spousal caregivers and 18 Vietnamese immigrant spousal caregivers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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