Reciprocity between older adults and their care-givers in emigrant households of Kerala, India

Motivators for family carers of persons with dementia in Kenya

OBJECTIVES

The number of people with dementia is on the rise in Kenya and across Africa. Although family carers act as the main providers of dementia care in Kenya, there is still a significant knowledge gap regarding why family members care for someone with dementia. This study explores perceived drivers of care for people with dementia in a rural Kenyan context.

METHODS

Participants were recruited in Makueni County, Kenya. Primary data were derived from a focus group discussion (FGD) and five individual interviews with family carers of people with dementia. To complement interpretation, triangulation occurred through using data from FGDs with healthcare workers and members of the general public. All audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and inductive thematic analysis performed using NVIVO 12.

RESULTS

Using the Positioning Theory, we sought to generate information pertaining to motivation for becoming a family carer. Five themes emerged from the analysis and included: (i) self-fulfillment, (ii) familial obligation, (iii) cultural and religious beliefs, (iv) reciprocity, and (v) societal pressures. These themes described the nature of care given to people with dementia, based on what the participants perceived as compelling and/or motivating factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings describe the unique motivators of family carers for people with dementia in Kenya. The ability to find meaning in the caregiving experience could contribute to development of effective support systems, interventions and policies for dementia carers with the aim of improving the overall quality of dementia care in Kenya.

Older People's Long-Term Care Preferences in China: The Impact of Living with Grandchildren on Older People's Willingness and Family Decisions

The purpose of this paper was to better understand the long-term care preferences of older people based on intergenerational demonstration effects and social exchange theory, derived from the literature on intergenerational family relationships. The authors relied on the 2014 China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey database to test the study hypotheses. The results indicated that living with grandchildren was negatively related to the institutional care preferences of older people. Family members' attitudes and older people's life satisfaction significantly mediated the relationship between living with grandchildren and their institutional care preferences. Gender and marital status had potentially diverse effects on institutional care preferences. Therefore, in the context of China's culture of filial piety, social exchange, and intergenerational demonstration, motivation may help foster intergenerational exchange and reciprocity in eldercare arrangements.

Experience of Rural Family Caregivers for Older Adults in Co-Residential Family Care Arrangements in Central Ethiopia: Motives of Family Caregivers in Reciprocal Relationship

PURPOSE

This study aimed to describe the experience of rural family caregivers' motive to care for older adults in rural Ethiopia.

METHODS

We used a descriptive phenomenological study method. Data from semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled caregivers were inductively coded and developed into themes. Mechanisms were used to increase the trustworthiness of the study.

RESULTS

The main theme that emerged from the data as motives for caregiving for rural older adults are traditional norms of filial responsibility and indebtedness, religious values, quality of a relationship, and older adults' reciprocity materially, in knowledge, work sharing, and emotional companionship.

CONCLUSION

There is no single motive among family caregivers that initiate co-residential caregiving for older adults. Multiple motives of obligation, altruism, religious values, emotional attachment, economic motive, and reciprocity of care have contributed to co-residential family care.

RECOMMENDATION

Strengthening the capacity of family caregivers through training and economic support to care for older adults should be emphasized. Early child-parent relationships and religious values should get attention from family practitioners and policymakers.

Circumstances Precipitating Rural Older Adults for Co-Residential Family Care Arrangements in Central Ethiopia

This study aims to explore circumstances that precipitate rural older adults for co-residential family care arrangements employing a phenomenological study method. Data from in-depth interviews with 12 rural older adults were inductively coded and developed into themes. Physical limitations and health problems, separation and divorce, death of a spouse, economic problem, neglect, inheritance dispute, and inaccessible locations are the circumstances that precipitate older adults to give up their independent living and start living with their children in the study area. The study points out to policymakers and other concerned bodies that actions must be geared toward maintaining a positive living environment for rural older adults and tackling challenges that are decisive in co-residential family care setting. Increasing health care accessibility, expanding senior/adult care centers and community health insurance programs, training geriatric social workers, enhancing collaboration between family caregivers and formal services, and provision of assistive devices for debilitating health conditions and subsequent disability will enhance the quality of life of rural older adults in co-residential family care arrangement.