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The impact of having foreign domestic workers on informal caregivers of persons with dementia - findings from a multi-method research in Singapore

Authors :
Qi Yuan
Yunjue Zhang
Ellaisha Samari
Anitha Jeyagurunathan
Gregory Tee Hng Tan
Fiona Devi
Peizhi Wang
Harish Magadi
Richard Goveas
Li Ling Ng
Mythily Subramaniam
Source :
BMC geriatrics. 22(1)
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Background Informal caregivers of persons with dementia (PWDs) sometimes engage foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to support their caregiving journey. However, there has not been much research to establish if this is really beneficial. The current study aims to investigate whether engaging FDWs specifically for caregiving of PWDs truly moderates caregiver stress and to explore caregivers’ experiences of engaging FDWs. Methods A multi-method study design with a quantitative and qualitative sub-study was adopted. For the quantitative sub-study, 282 informal caregivers of PWDs were recruited. Propensity score matching analysis was used. For the qualitative sub-study, 15 informal caregivers with FDWs were interviewed. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted. Results The quantitative sub-study confirmed that engaging FDWs did moderate the depressive symptoms of informal dementia caregivers (marginal effect = -3.35, p = 0.0497). However, such support did not affect their caregiving burden, self-efficacy, and perceived positive aspects of caregiving. The qualitative sub-study suggested that engaging FDWs is an ambivalent experience, which entails both support and challenges. Conclusions The current study confirmed previous research findings, that engaging FDWs moderated depressive symptoms among caregivers of PWDs, and it could be through their physical support such as in daily caregiving activities. Policy-makers may consider providing more subsidies to caregivers caring for PWDs with mobility issues to hire FDWs. They may also consider providing training to FDWs on dementia caregiving skills and improving the intake of such training as this might be helpful for both FDWs and caregivers during this journey.

Details

ISSN :
14712318
Volume :
22
Issue :
1
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
BMC geriatrics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....4f4b820b845516697bb467df3f2d2637