Paper
Saturday, 22 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Strategies to Help Caregivers
The Experiences and Challenges of Informal Caregivers: A Korean Immigrants Study
Hae-Ra Han, RN, PhD1, Miyong T. Kim, RN, PhD1, and Kim B. Kim, PhD2. (1) School of Nursing, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA, (2) Korean Resource Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
Learning Objective #1: describe the caregiving experiences of Korean American immigrants.
Learning Objective #2: discuss the role of acculturation in the caregiving of recent immigrant populations.
An increasing number of older persons in the Asian population places unforeseen long-term care demands on Asian caregivers, yet minimal attention has been given to the issue of caregiving in this group. This study attempted to fill this gap by describing Korean caregivers’ unique caregiving experiences from their perspective. A qualitative research design using a focus group approach was employed to discuss the meaning of caregiving in their cultural context. Twenty-four informants, mostly women, at varying points surrounding caregiving, participated. Each focus group interview lasted for about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Thematic analysis was conducted by two bilingual researchers.  Five themes within three contexts emerged from the data. Korean caregivers found themselves living within the contexts of (a) facing double challenges, (b) living with wavering expectations, and (c) being in a different culture. Five themes characterized their caregiving experiences: (1) being confused about traditional value of filial piety (Hyo), (2) providing care they need, (3) feeling out of my capacity, (4) being connected versus providing connection, and (5) reconsidering geriatric care systems. The findings indicate that the caregiving structure of Korean families with chronically ill or handicapped senior members is largely dependent upon informal (unpaid) or family caregivers and that these families are often left without systematic help in terms of finding emotional support or logistical help (i.e., home care) because of language and cultural barriers as a predominantly first-generation immigrant group. While this study was one of few targeting a recent immigrant group, the findings suggest that there is a strong need for developing an intervention program that can help families of Korean American seniors with serious chronic illnesses or handicaps to keep the affected seniors in the home setting as long as possible and to prevent or reduce institutionalizations of Korean American seniors.

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