Caregiving Daughters

This collection will present works that offer illuminating perspectives on the remarkably diverse Asian American populations of the United States. As a population that is neither black nor white, the range of experiences of these groups, many of whom arrived as refugees, presents other perspectives on the cultural mosaic that constitutes the United States. Studies of Asian Americans sheds light on issues related to immigration, refugee policy, transnationalism, return migration, cultural citizenship, ethnic communities, community building, identity and group formation, panethnicity, race relations, gender and class, entrepreneurship, employment, representation, politics, adaptation, and acculturation. The writings in this collection are drawn from a wide variety of disciplines to provide a broad and informative array of insights on these fascinating and diverse populations.

Examines reasons behind decisions

It has been assumed in this society that women can, should, and always will provide care for our elderly. While historically, they have assumed the lion's share of that responsibility, societal changes place their continued high-level participation in question. This book examines the factors that influence the reasons why adult daughters become primary caregivers to parents with dementia.

Based on real-life interviews

The enormous increase in numbers of elderly people, the changing work roles of women, and the transformation of the traditional family make a strong argument for possible shifts in the stance that women have traditionally taken on the question of caregiving. To determine the likelihood of such a shift, it is necessary to learn more about the process that leadswomen to the role. In this study, the author conducted caregiver interviews with adult daughters to learn the reasons for their selection and the process by which they assumed the role. Thirty-eight individual reasons were found and organized into ten broad categories.

Analyzes how the role is assumed

This study concludes that the caregiving decision is often not a conscious one, and there is seldom a carefully thought-out plan for caregiving by professionals, families, or caregivers. Analysis of the data from the interviews led to the development of a stage model to describe the evolution of awareness on the part of caregiving daughters. The selection of caregiver is determined by a variety of often intertwined internal and external factors that are controlled by fate more often than reason. This chance selection lends itself to the possibility of poor choice of caregiver, early burnout, and refusal of the role by disenchanted daughters in the future.

Our reliance on this flawed selection process and our assumption that it will stand up to changes that are occurring could put society, our elderly, and a generation of women at risk.