At the intersection of culture: Ethnically diverse dementia caregivers’ service use

Abstract

This study used an ethnocultural approach to explore how cultural factors influenced ethnically diverse dementia caregivers' experiences and use of services. A modified thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 15 caregivers, ranging in age from 50 to 75 years, including spouses, daughters, sons, cousins, and a friend, from three minority groups-African American, Hispanic, and South Korean caregivers-was conducted by a team of multi-lingual researchers. Caregiver stress was pervasive across all subgroups. Several themes emerged that were qualitatively different across groups, including knowledge about dementia, language barriers, religion and spirituality, and cultural differences in attitudes about caring and formal services. A two-pronged intervention model that includes a generic intervention to reduce caregiver stress along with a culturally targeted intervention tailored to a family's language, food preferences, religious practices, gender norms, and other values was recommended to more successfully reach and support these caregivers.

Utilizing the Senior Companion Program as a platform for a culturally informed caregiver intervention: Results from a mixed methods pilot study

“…First, the results of Phase 3 suggest that family caregivers gained knowledge about ADRD as a benefit from participating in the SCP Plus. Previous research (e.g., Richardson et al, 2017) on ethnically diverse ADRD caregivers has uncovered the need for and benefits of obtaining more knowledge about ADRD. Previous studies further suggest that African Americans may have less factual knowledge of and report fewer sources of information about ADRD (Zhou et al, 2017).…”

“…Previous studies (e.g. Richardson et al, 2017) have shown that the issues that African American and other ethnically diverse dementia caregivers struggle with often differ from those that caregivers from the dominant culture encounter. For example, Knight and Sayegh (2010), Lindauer, Harvath, Berry, and Wros (2016) as well as Sayegh and Knight (2011) have argued that ancestral family values and life experiences shaped by historical traumas influence and affect African American caregivers.…”

Social support and self-rated health among caregivers of people with dementia: The mediating role of caregiving burden

“…Research in the past few years suggests a need for multicomponent, psychosocial and/or psychoeducational interventions that address social support and social networks to help caregivers of people with dementia cope with CB (Beinart, Weinman, Wade, & Brady, 2012; Dam et al., 2016; Fields et al., 2016; Martín-Carrasco et al., 2009). Research also points toward the importance of considering the role of cultural values in dementia family caregiving, particularly as they relate to social support (Richardson et al., 2017). By providing more programs aimed at reducing CB, healthcare and social service professionals may help improve caregivers of people with dementia’ social connectivity to their networks as well as improve their overall health.…”

“A Little Bit of Their Souls”: Investigating the Concept of Dignity for People Living With Dementia Using Caregivers’ Blogs

“…One blog written by a caregiver living in Southeast Asia was excluded from the sample because the remaining blogs were written by individuals living in Western countries (the United States and the United Kingdom). These Western caregivers most likely share more similar caregiving experiences given similarities in social, cultural, and political factors that drive the availability of resources and health care services in these countries (Richardson et al, 2019).…”