Exploring the experiences of culturally diverse family caregivers of older adults: perceptions of formal services and related barriers

The role of culture in family caregiving is important as values and traditions influence how caregivers perceive their roles; this also has been shown to have implications for service utilization. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of culturally diverse family caregivers including their perceptions about formal services and barriers encountered when accessing supports to assist them in their caregiving roles. Twelve family caregivers from the Chinese, South Asian, and Latin American communities in Calgary, Alberta caring for an older adult aged 65 years of age or older were invited to take part in a semi-structured face-to-face interview. A constructivist grounded theory approach was applied to explore the multiple realties and meanings that ethno-cultural caregivers attach to caregiving and their experiences. A constant comparative approach to data analysis was used. Results from this study point to the relationship between culture and service barriers faced by these culturally diverse family caregivers. This study provides insight into the complexity of culture in the family caregiving experience. Implications for practitioners and policy makers will be described including potential recommendations for enhancing formal services to better meet family caregivers’ needs.