Cohen-Mansfield Jiska, Golander Hava
Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Igor Orenstein Chair for the Study of Geriatrics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Qual Health Res. 2023 Oct;33(12):1116-1130. doi: 10.1177/10497323231186108. Epub 2023 Aug 9.
Migrant care-workers (MCWs) are often the main caregivers for frail older persons. We examined the complex relationship between MCWs and primary family caregivers (PFCs) in Israel to better understand how MCWs and PFCs perceive the formal and informal nature of their relationship. Given the high prevalence of two-income families who are unavailable for caregiving, the relationships among MCWs, PFCs, and care-recipients warrants examination, particularly when PFCs serve as managers of care and the care-recipient has dementia. The sample of 116 MCWs and 117 PFCs included 92 MCW-PFC pairs who were part of a larger study on home care for frail older persons. A mixed-methods approach was used involving quantitative (correlations/paired t-tests) and qualitative (grounded theory framework) analyses conducted on data obtained from structured interviews. A significant correlation was found between ratings of the quality of the relationship by MCWs and PFCs, although PFCs rated it significantly more positively than MCWs. MCWs' ratings of their relationship with the PFCs were significantly correlated with their ratings of the quality of their relationship with the care-recipient. Four main thematic categories emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) communication, (2) dependence, (3) relationship quality, and (4) triad: MCW-PFC-care-recipient. For each theme, we present perspectives of MCWs and PFCs, reflecting either "closeness" or "distance" in their relationship. The findings highlight the complexity of such relationships, with the potential for a meaningful positive bond or mistrust or abuse. The study provides a basis for testing methods for ameliorating the negative experiences described by some participants.
移民护理工作者（MCWs）通常是体弱老年人的主要照顾者。我们研究了以色列MCWs与主要家庭照顾者（PFCs）之间的复杂关系，以便更好地理解MCWs和PFCs如何看待他们关系的正式和非正式性质。鉴于双收入家庭普遍无法提供照顾，MCWs、PFCs和受照顾者之间的关系值得研究，特别是当PFCs担任护理管理者且受照顾者患有痴呆症时。116名MCWs和117名PFCs的样本包括92对MCW-PFC，他们是一项关于体弱老年人家庭护理的更大规模研究的一部分。采用了混合方法，对从结构化访谈中获得的数据进行定量（相关性/配对t检验）和定性（扎根理论框架）分析。发现MCWs和PFCs对关系质量的评分之间存在显著相关性，尽管PFCs对其评分明显比MCWs更积极。MCWs对他们与PFCs关系的评分与他们对与受照顾者关系质量的评分显著相关。定性分析出现了四个主要主题类别：（1）沟通，（2）依赖，（3）关系质量，以及（4）三元组：MCW-PFC-受照顾者。对于每个主题，我们呈现了MCWs和PFCs的观点，反映了他们关系中的“亲密”或“疏远”。研究结果凸显了这种关系的复杂性，有可能形成有意义的积极纽带，也有可能产生不信任或虐待。该研究为测试改善一些参与者所描述的负面经历的方法提供了基础。
