WHAT ARE THE PERCEPTIONS OF DEMENTIA CAREGIVING AND HELP-SEEKING AMONG PROSPECTIVE KOREAN CAREGIVERS?

Abstract

Providing care to a family member with dementia is associated with many physical and emotional issues, which include social isolation and financial burdens. Immigrant caregivers, especially in the Korean community, are not an exception in this matter. Despite the increasing number of Korean immigrants and Korean Canadians with family caregivers in Canada, little research has been done to explore how people with multi- or cross-cultural values, specifically Koreans, understand dementia caregiving, and what their help-seeking patterns are in Canada. The purpose of this research is to examine: 1) How do Koreans living in Montreal conceive the role of family and other social supports in the provision of care to people living with dementia? 2) What are the commonalities and differences in providing care to family members with dementia among prospective Koreans caregivers? This study used phenomenological approaches and purposeful sampling for data collection. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight prospective Korean caregivers (both immigrants and Canadian-born people Korean of ethnic origin). All interviews were tape recorded transcribed and analyzed. Several methods were used to ensure the trustworthiness of the study, including transferability, dependability, credibility, and confirmability. Analysis of these interviews found three emerging themes which related to prospective Korean caregivers’ perceptions of dementia caregiving and social support. Three emerging themes were following: 1) the importance of family care; 2) the roles of the Korean church as a support system; 3) ability to find resources and help from outside of the family. Findings from this study suggest that service providers are crucial to the provision of services to primary caregivers as well as their family members. Service providers who have different cultural backgrounds should first attempt to understand their clients’ family values and then offer information to family members regarding how to engage in caregiving. In doing so, caregivers and their family members can not only reduce their levels of care burden but also provide better care to their loved ones with dementia.