Factors Affecting Elder Caregiving in Multigenerational Asian American Families

Abstract

As the Asian American immigrant population grows older, daily care, mental health, and access to services may present particular difficulties for this population and their children. Specifically, due to vast differences between Eastern and Western cultures, children (second-generation Asian Americans) may not share the same philosophy of care as their elders. Consequently, this cultural dissonance between generations can result in adverse mental health outcomes for both elders and their family members who are involved in caregiving activities. The situation is exacerbated given the lack of culturally sensitive professionals and resources to serve this population in local communities. In this article, an examination of these intergenerational dynamics will be followed by practice suggestions for appropriate interventions at the community level.