Caring for a family member with intellectual disability into old age: Applying the sociocultural stress and coping model to Italian and Greek migrants in Australia

Abstract

Background Little is known about how older parent caregivers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds experience caring for their family member with intellectual disability into late life. Method In‐depth semi‐structured interviews were carried out with N = 19 family caregivers aged 50–91 from ten Italian and four Greek families. The Sociocultural Stress and Coping Model was used as a framework to interpret their experiences. Results A number of stressors including the need to make sacrifices, physical and emotional demands, uncertain futures and challenges associated with “the system” were identified. While family members play a key role in providing support, changing values around filial responsibility were evident. Discussion Further attention needs to be given to CALD families to address challenges associated with caring for their family member with intellectual disabilities as they age. This study also challenges assumptions that CALD families prefer to keep caring within the family long‐term.

Risk Perception and Health Precautions Towards COVID-19 Among Older Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Adults in South Australia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Older CALD adults are at increased risk of psychological and emotional health adversity associated with the pandemic. 19 , 25 , 26 Many are ageing-in-place in the communities and have loneliness and prolonged exposure to cultural shocks and isolation since migration from their motherlands. 19 , 27 , 28 The national or global health crisis, that is the COVID-19 pandemic, has interrupted normal activities of daily living and access to support services, such as homecare assistance, communications, and personal and emotional care.…”

“… 19 , 25 , 26 Many are ageing-in-place in the communities and have loneliness and prolonged exposure to cultural shocks and isolation since migration from their motherlands. 19 , 27 , 28 The national or global health crisis, that is the COVID-19 pandemic, has interrupted normal activities of daily living and access to support services, such as homecare assistance, communications, and personal and emotional care. 29 When the vast majority of older Australians both living alone and ageing-in-place experience high prevalence of psychological disorders, 17 changes causal to COVD-19 are probable.…”

“…23 , 24 A recent study by Fuller and Huseth-Zosel (2021) reported that mean perceived emotional coping level of older adults was 7.9 (on a scale 1–10), where 87% of them rated their coping positively. 19 The authors also related emotional coping with staying busy, seeking social support, and having a positive mindset. Minahan et al (2021) identified the avoidant coping as the strongest mediator of the relationship between pandemic-related stress and emotional precautions.…”

“…They also have higher mortality rates compared to native Australians. 19 CALD populations experience higher rates of disadvantage in the event of natural disasters, as they lack equitable access to information and services in Australia, have poorer health literacy, and are often unprepared for disasters, response and recovery measures. 16 , 20 , 21 In order to advocate development of policy and practice frameworks in support of populations in greater need, this leads to our specific interest in the study of older CALD populations in Australia and their perceptions of risk and precautions related to COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic.…”

Factors influencing resilience of parents with children with neurodevelopmental disorders: The role of structural language, social cognition, and social support

“…Having a child with a disability becomes an adverse situation for parents because it involves many physical and emotional demands, sacrifices to meet their needs, or living with the insecurity of having an uncertain future ( 1 ).…”