1998/99 PCERII Funded Research Abstract

Research Title: Immigrant Women’s Experience as Family Caregiver: Support and Barriers

Research Team:

• Anne Neufeld (University of Alberta)
• Margaret J. Harrison (University of Alberta)
• Karen Hughes (University of Alberta)
• Denise Spitzer (University of Alberta)
• Miriam Stewart (University of Alberta)

Research Domain(s): Public Services & Political

The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of women family caregivers who are recent or past immigrants from China and India. Specific objectives are: a) to identify the nature of the material and social conditions within which immigrant women give care; b) to understand how they access support and the barriers to support they encounter; and c) to examine their experience in accessing health and social service resources. Implementation of health system reform policies has accelerated the demand on women for family caregiving. Health reform and restructuring has been economically driven and not specifically sensitive to the needs of immigrant women. The study will include immigrant women caring for a relative with a chronic health condition or disability. Ethnographic inquiry will be employed to provide access to women’s description of their experience of support and barriers to support from family and friends and community agencies. Forty women will be interviewed in their homes and asked to participate in a focus group. The purpose of the focus group is to provide feedback on preliminary findings and identify implications for programs and policies including accessibility to services, formation of collaborative partnerships, and identification of areas for advocacy.