Foreign Home Care Workers Research Articles

Exploring the association between sleep and health performance of migrant home care workers and elderly care recipients in Taiwan

ABSTRACT This study, conducted in June and July 2022 through purposive sampling, aimed to explore the relationship between sleep and health performance in 33 pairs of elderly individuals and their migrant caregivers in southern Taiwan. Participants completed a structured questionnaire and wore an Actiwatch for seven days. Pearson correlation and independent t-test were used for analysis. Nearly 50% of foreign home care workers suffered from insomnia, and 80% of elderly care recipients with disabilities experienced sleep disorders. The number of chronic illnesses and/or dementia among the elderly and insomnia among care workers were associated with poor self-perceived health (r = –0.667, p < .001) and sleep disorders among the elderly (r = 0.368, p = .035). The problem of caregiving should be addressed. Future studies should increase the sample size and extend the duration of the study to enhance the generalizability of the findings.

Social Workers' Attempts to Navigate Among the Elderly, Their Families, and Foreign Home Care Workers in the Haredi Community.

The study's aim is to examine social workers' experience in facilitating the integration of foreign home care workers (FHCWs) into the ultraorthodox Jewish (UOJ) community for the purpose of treating older adults. Using the qualitative-phenomenological approach, semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 social workers in daily contact with UOJ older adult clients in the process of integrating FHCWs. Data analysis revealed three central themes-integrating FHCWs into the aging UOJ family: barriers and challenges in the interaction between the two worlds; "even the rabbi has a FHCW": changing trends in caring for older adults; and the social worker as mediator and facilitator of a successful relationship. Social workers play a central role, serving as a cultural bridge in the process of integrating FHCWs, as a way of addressing the needs of ultraorthodox elderly and their families, while also considering the needs of the foreign workers.

“Do Foreigners Deserve Rights?”—Revisited: The Role of Familiarity and Satisfaction with Foreign Home Care Services

The present study examines the role of familiarity and satisfaction with foreign vs. Israeli home care as predictors of attitudes towards social rights to foreigners. A random stratified sample of home care recipients in the center of Israel was drawn. A total of 388 older adults and 686 family members were interviewed. Of these, 666 relied on foreign home care services, and the remaining sample relied on Israeli home care services. Satisfaction with services was a stronger predictor of one's willingness to grant rights to foreigners among those who employ foreign home care workers than among those who employ Israeli workers. The findings are discussed within the frameworks of the contact theory and in relation to the global trend of foreign home care services to older adults.

Examining satisfaction with live-in foreign home care in Israel from the perspectives of care recipients, their family members, and their foreign home care workers

Objectives: This pilot study evaluates satisfaction with foreign home care arrangement from the perspectives of older adults, their family members, and their foreign home care workers. Methods: A matched cross-sectional sample of 148 family members and foreign home care workers and 90 older care recipients completed a satisfaction survey in the years 2007–2008. Results: Foreign home care workers’ satisfaction was directly associated with family members’ and care recipients’ satisfaction. In addition, the well-being of older care recipients and foreign home care workers was directly associated with their satisfaction with this arrangement. Finally, there was an inverse association between care recipients’ cognitive functioning and family members’ satisfaction. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the complex associations between the various stakeholders involved in this caregiving arrangement. It is possible that better working conditions would result in improved satisfaction with services of all parties involved.

Abuse is in the eyes of the beholder: using multiple perspectives to evaluate elder mistreatment under round-the-clock foreign home carers in Israel

ABSTRACTThe overall goal of the study reported in this paper was to examine differences in the perceived occurrence of abuse and neglect as between older care recipients, their family carers, and foreign home-care workers in Israel. Overall, 148 matched family members and foreign home-care workers and 75 care recipients completed a survey of abuse and neglect. Significant discrepancies in their reports of neglect were found, with the foreign home-care workers more likely to identify neglect (66%) than the older adults (27.7%) or their family members (29.5%). Although the rates of reported abuse ranged between 16.4 and 20.7 per cent and the differences were not statistically significant, the different parties assigned the responsibility for the abuse to different perpetrators. The independent variables that significantly associated with abuse and neglect also varied by the three groups of participants. The findings suggest that even with round-the-clock home care, the basic needs of many older adults are not met, and that many experience substantial abuse. The study emphasises the subjective nature of abuse and neglect, and suggests that more education about what constitutes elder abuse and neglect may lead to more accurate and consistent reports across reporting sources. Incorporating data from the various stakeholders may enhance the early identification of elder abuse and neglect.

Intention to Leave the Job Among Live-In Foreign Home Care Workers in Israel

In Israel, almost all around-the-clock home care services are provided by foreign workers. Despite the fact that these workers are considered temporary, the Israeli government has acknowledged the need for consistency in care and now allows workers to stay in the country for as long as their care recipient is alive. Nonetheless, there have been increasing concerns about the tendency of foreign home care workers to view Israel as a temporary station on their way to more attractive destinations, such as Canada or England. Using the job rewards and concerns model, this article evaluates determinants of foreign home care workers' intentions to leave their job. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 178 Filipino home care workers in Israel. Only 15 workers (8.4%) reported that they would be likely or very likely to leave their job within the next 3 months. The final model suggested that negative experiences within the home/work environment as well as within Israeli society at large contribute to depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms. However, caring for an older adult with dementia was the only predictor of intention to leave the job. The majority of workers do not report an intention to leave their job. Nonetheless, greater supervision of this caregiving arrangement in an attempt to protect the rights of foreign home care workers within the home/work environment is an important step, which has to be followed up by attitudinal changes within society at large. Specific training in dementia care is also warranted.

The perspectives of older care recipients, their family members, and their round-the-clock foreign home care workers regarding elder mistreatment

Objectives: This study evaluated attitudes toward elder mistreatment from the perspective of older care recipients; their foreign home care workers, and their family members. Methods: Overall, 88 older care recipients, 142 family members, and 127 foreign home care workers responded to a hypothetical case vignette querying about the appropriate care of an older woman who suffers from neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia. Results: Foreign home care workers tended to be more lenient toward elder mistreatment relative to older adults and their family members and to view as effective techniques that would non-equivocally be considered abusive and ineffective by current standards. Conclusions: Interventions should inform these stakeholders about what constitutes elder mistreatment and should be particularly geared toward addressing cultural differences in the perception of elder mistreatment.

Reports of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Older Care Recipients by Their Family Members and Their Foreign Home Care Workers: Results From Triadic Data

To evaluate reports of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) per family members and round the clock foreign home care workers. A cross-sectional matched sample of family members, foreign home care workers, and care recipients. Family members and foreign home care workers completed a measure of NPS. All 3 stakeholders provided a variety of demographic and clinical characteristics. There was a low agreement between family members and foreign home care workers with regard to reports of depression and disturbing behaviors in care recipient and a good agreement with regard to reports of memory problems. In addition to care recipients' characteristics, family members' characteristics were primarily correlated with family members' reports of NPS and foreign home care workers' characteristics were primarily associated with foreign home care workers' reports of NPS. Because much of the evaluation of NPS relies on reports of formal (ie, paid) and informal caregivers (ie, unpaid), clinicians should be aware of the fact that these reports are based in large part on the subjective perception of the caregiver.

Fears come true: the experiences of older care recipients and their family members of live-in foreign home care workers

Foreign home care services provided to frail older adults by individuals from the developing world are a global phenomenon. This study evaluated the challenges associated with live-in foreign home care from the perspective of older care recipients and their family members. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 family members and seven older care recipients. Interviews were analyzed thematically. Three main themes were identified: (i) the intense fears associated with witnessing the decline of the older care recipient and the subsequent employment of a foreign home care worker; (ii) actual negative experiences within this caregiving setting; and (iii) the ways in which family members and older care recipients coped with these challenging experiences. The key to this caregiving arrangement is the establishment of trust. Yet, many care recipients experienced violations of trust that resulted in abuse and neglect, which served to further intensify fears and concerns about this caregiving arrangement. The same coping methods used to maintain this arrangement, despite fears and concerns, are the ones responsible for maintaining the older care recipient in an abusive situation.

Family and family-like interactions in households with round-the-clock paid foreign carers in Israel

ABSTRACTThis paper reports a study of family and family-like interactions and transfers, or exchanges of goods and resources, between paid, round-the-clock, Filipino home carers and those they care for in a sample of households in Israel. Qualitative interviews about their experiences and attitudes concerning the care role were conducted with 22 family members and 29 Filipino home-care workers. A thematic analysis of the interview data identified three major themes: the structure and internal dynamics of the adapted family or family-like system of care; the role of family members; and the role of Filipino home-care workers in the new system of care. Sons and daughters tended to appropriate the care-management positions and to reduce their social and emotional support for the care recipient. In contrast, spouse care-givers continued to provide some of the personal and emotional care even when a Filipino home-care worker was employed. Filipino home-care workers were made responsible for daily care and domestic routines and provided emotional and social care. It was found that family members do not relinquish their role as care-givers when round-the-clock foreign carers are on hand, but the nature of their role changes. The results suggest that foreign home-care workers' job description needs to be redefined to acknowledge the substantial social and emotional care that they provide.

Beliefs and practices regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among Filipino home care workers in Israel

Background: In the past few decades, foreign home care to frail older adults has become a common alternative to family care in many developed countries. Whereas Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are common conditions in this population of frail older adults, little is known about the beliefs of foreign home care workers about ADRD or about their practices. Methods: A mixed-methods design was conducted in 2006–2007 in Israel. The study included a survey of beliefs about ADRD completed by 184 Filipino home care workers and qualitative interviews with 29 Filipino home care workers. Results: On seven of the 14 belief items, more than 30% of the workers were in discordance with scientific view about ADRD. Those workers who were not informed about the care recipient's medical conditions were more likely to report beliefs that were inconsistent with current scientific knowledge. In qualitative interviews, Filipino home care workers reported using intuitively behavioral techniques when caring for older adults with ADRD. Conclusions: Despite the fact that some of the workers’ beliefs are inconsistent with current scientific view, their actual intuitive practices are consistent with the scientific paradigm. Specific emphasis has to be placed on encouraging workers’ intuitive approach to ADRD and providing workers with ample information about the medical conditions and needs of the care recipient.

Social Workers' Perspectives on Care Arrangements Between Vulnerable Elders and Foreign Home Care Workers: Lessons from Israeli/Filipino Caregiving Arrangements

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: This pilot study addresses a universal social phenomenon of foreign workers of lower socioeconomic status who provide care to more affluent, but frail older adults. In Israel, foreign workers from the Philippines provide the majority of paid 24-hour home care services to older adults. To date, the views of social workers, who are highly involved in this arrangement of care, have never been evaluated. Hence, this study evaluates the advantages and challenges associated with such an arrangement of care from the perspective of social workers. METHODS: We conducted four focus groups with 31 social workers who work closely with Filipino home care workers, older adults, and their family members. RESULTS: Using grounded theory methodology, we identified motivating factors that contribute to the popularity of this caregiving arrangement among both Filipinos and Israelis. We also identified four major areas of challenge; these include the intimate nature of this caregiving arrangement as well as cultural, legal, and financial disparities. Social workers also discussed strategies they use to assure the safety and satisfaction of the involved parties. DISCUSSION: Despite the high need for this caregiving arrangement, many difficulties and challenges exist; these are partially due to very prominent cultural differences between the host culture, Israel, and the culture of the Filipino home care worker, and they are also due to legal, social, and economic differences ingrained in such a care arrangement.

Client Satisfaction with Live-In and Live-Out Home Care Workers in Israel

In an era of globalization where the migration of long-term care workers is common, foreign live-in home care workers can compensate for the unavailability of family members and, perhaps, even substitute for institutional care in the provision of long-term care services to disabled older persons. This study examines differences in home care satisfaction between disabled older persons in Israel with “live-in” home care workers and those with “live-out” workers, and explores some differences in socio-demographic and personal characteristics between these two groups. Face-to-face interviews were held with a random sample of 93 older persons in Beer-Sheva. Older persons with live-in home care workers were more satisfied with their home care service than those with live-out workers. Those with live-in workers were more severely disabled, tended not to have any children living in close proximity, although an adult child was available as an informal caregiver. Communication difficulties between the elderly persons and their home care workers were found not to affect negatively the satisfaction with the service.