The experiences of Korean immigrant caregivers of non-English-speaking older relatives with dementia in American nursing homes.
The purpose of this article is to describe Korean immigrant caregivers' experiences regarding American nursing home placement of their non-English-speaking older relatives with dementia. Qualitative descriptive methods and qualitative content analysis were used. A total of 17 semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 Korean immigrant family caregivers. The "Korean way of thinking" emerged as a fundamental cultural belief about caregiving. Six major themes were identified: (a) I never thought about a nursing home; (b) If I think in a Korean way, I feel . . . ; (c) Nursing home staff cannot communicate with . . . ; (d) My care recipient maintains Korean culture; (e) Nursing home services are better than expected but . . . ; and (f) My care recipient is more vulnerable because of dementia. This study provides valuable insights for health care providers about communication and cultural issues of immigrant caregivers for non-English-speaking older relatives with dementia.
Kong
Eun-Hi
EH
Kyungwon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. ehkong@kyungwon.ac.kr
Deatrick
Janet A
JA
Evans
Lois K
LK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003704:Dementia / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012934:Social Isolation; D014481:United States