AGen2023 Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentations

68961 | Blurred Boundaries for Foreign Caregivers: For Better or For Worse?

Kate Perepezko, University of Pittsburgh, United States

Chloe Muntefering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States

Feng-Hang Chang, Taipei Medical University & Wan Fang Hospital, Taiwan

Yosika Mauludina, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan

Beth Fields, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States

Background: Stroke survivors frequently require a caregiver after they are discharged from the hospital (1). Their needs are often medically and physically demanding and can exceed the abilities of families, leading some to seek in-home help (2, 3). In Taiwan, foreign caregiving has become more common to address the needs of older adults and avoid institutionalization (4). However, little is known about the perspectives of stroke survivors and their family regarding foreign caregiving. The current project sought to address this gap.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected through a stroke recovery and foreign caregiving project (5). For this project, researchers completed interviews with 23 Taiwanese, community-dwelling stroke survivors (mean age: 73.4 years; 47.8% female) and their family who had hired a foreign caregiver. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach (6).

Results: Six themes arose from our analysis, categorized into positive and negative consequences of employing a foreign caregiver. Positive outcomes included: (a) reduced family burden, (b) relationships exceeding professional norms, and (c) receiving necessary support. Negative outcomes included: (a) blurred and demanding schedules, (b) unmet expectations, and (c) poor stroke survivor outcomes. For example, many participants discussed relationships with their caregiver resembling “family”, but simultaneously discussed a lack of boundaries for the caregiver’s time off leading to burnout.

Discussion: Participants identified positive and negative consequences of hiring a foreign caregiver that were sometimes conflicting. These findings demonstrate the need for specific regulations and policies surrounding the expectations and role of foreign caregivers.

69170 | Qualitative Inquiry on Personal and Situational Factors on Elderly and Caregivers

Kadzrina Abdul Kadir, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Emy Ezura Abdul Jalil, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Hazlinda Hassan, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Raja Kamariah Raja Mohd Khalid, Ministry of Women, Family and Community

Development, Malaysia

An aging society have an enormous impact on a country’s society. For a developing economy, are its citizens ready for the changes that an aged society brings? Education could be a leveler in that by educating its younger generation on the aspect of aging and aged care, and most importantly caring for the elderly, the aged society could ensure that the elderly have access to health and wellbeing, part of the 2030 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This paper presents part of its current research on a qualitative inquiry aimed to explore personal and situational factors affecting both the elderly and caregivers’ daily routines. The term "situational factors" refers to all externalities (infrastructure; facilities; accessibility and availability; policy; governance) that have a direct or indirect effect on changes in individual behaviors, whereas "personal factors" refers to internal factors (demographic factors; family dynamics; self-efficacy; social norms; knowledge and experience). Based on interviews with more than 30 elderly and caregivers, through both direct interviews and focus group interviews, the research has found that both personal and situational factors play a role in the wellbeing of the elderly. In addition, the research also suggest these three areas: 1) Respondents have preferences to age in place, preferably in the care of their family members,2) Concerns of health and sustainability of being independent and mobile and lastly, 3) Ensuring financial capability for unexpected medical expenses and caregiving expenses.

67986 | Caring Communities – Ready for a Collaborative Approach to Dementia?

Christine Pichler, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Gabriele Hagendorfer-Jauk, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Manuela Perchtaler, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Tamara Ulbrich, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria agen.iafor.org/agen2023-virtual-presentations

Old age, care dependency and dementia pose particular challenges to those affected and their families. This paper presents participatory approaches to face these challenges, both theoretical and practical, focussing on the concept of the caring community. One form of a caring community is the dementia-friendly community where people with dementia and their families find the acceptance and support they need. These communities are characterised, among others, by efforts to enable social inclusion and overcome stigmatisation as well as an open approach to dementia in general. Several conditions need to be fulfilled for the successful social participation of a disadvantaged group (e.g., people with dementia) in a caring community. Among others, communities need to develop a fun-damental social (e.g., dementia-inclusive) attitude which then translates into corresponding actions and behaviours. In addition, community members’ understanding for and acceptance of people’s needs and lived realities need to be improved. This paper discusses the experiences from a project in a small town in Austria which implemented awarenessraising, support and relief activities to improve the town’s dementia-friendliness as well as dementia-inclusiveness. Highlighted are challenges with sustaining newly established meeting spaces and with activating people to engage in community efforts in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the paper also touches upon the results of the participatory evaluation regarding the effectiveness of the project’s activities.