Caring for an older person with dementia: Behavioral problems in the eyes of family caregivers and migrant home care workers.

Abstract

The present study addresses the perspectives of Israeli family caregivers and migrant care workers on behavioral problems of persons with dementia. We thematically analyzed interviews with 21 migrant home care workers and 17 family members. Three main themes reported by both family members and migrant home care workers were identified. The first theme concerned the main challenges associated with caring for a person with dementia. The second theme concerned the management of the care recipient's behavioral problems. The last theme concerned the relationship between family members and the migrant home care worker in the context of the care provided to a family member with dementia. Our findings stress that the different stakeholders have quite similar perspectives concerning what the most challenging behaviors associated with dementia are as well as ways to address them. Moreover, both family members and migrant home care workers recognize the role of family members as mediators and as those who ensure adequate working relations of the migrant care workers and thus, are directly responsible for protecting the mental and physical wellbeing of the worker. Policy stakeholders and clinicians responsible for this caregiving arrangement should use these insights to better prepare family members and migrant home care workers for this caregiving context and the challenges it brings.