Caring From a Distance: Experiences of Polish Immigrants in the United States Providing Care to Parents With Dementia Overseas

Abstract

Objectives Aging populations and an increasing number of immigrants in recent years have led to numerous changes in intergenerational relationships. While many studies have investigated the impact of providing care to a parent with dementia, little is known about the impact of caregiving activities provided from a distance, such as in the case of immigration, and over a long period of time to a person with dementia. Our understanding of how transnational caregiving for a person with dementia impacts relationships is also limited. Using the Intergenerational Solidarity Theory (IST) as a theoretical framework, this paper examines the experiences of adult children immigrant caregivers of a parent with dementia living in Poland. Method A qualitative, semi-structured interview was conducted with thirty-seven caregivers living in the U.S. while providing transnational care to a parent with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia. The data analysis was based on the thematic analysis strategy. Results Four themes were identified: (1) filial obligations and solidarity, (2) caregivers’ contradictory emotions regarding transnational care, (3) financial and emotional exhaustion, and (4) challenges of nursing home dilemmas. Discussion Transnational caregivers represent a unique group who face distinctive challenges related to competing demands and limited resources. This study contributes to a better understanding of their experiences while the findings highlight the importance of addressing the mental and physical well-being of immigrant caregivers of individuals with dementia and have important implications for healthcare professionals and immigration policies. Implications for future research were also identified.

An Autoethnography on Intergenerational Relationships and Transnational Care for Older Parents

“…In stark contrast to my research on elderly care, the hands-on experience of providing practical care for my mother proved to be an exhausting and stressful yet profoundly enlightening journey of lifelong learning. I felt the tension, stress, and exhaustion of providing care more than I could have imagined when reading the related literature (Gerain and Zech 2019;Gérain and Zech 2021;Leszko and Allen 2023). I engaged with my mother during moments of consciousness and when she experienced delusions.…”