As we get older, it is largely inevitable that we will need to rely upon the kindness of others in some respect or other to account for our evolving health needs – and, of course, this can prove to be challenging for a wide range of different reasons, whether that be because we lack our own support networks, are worried about financing our old age or simply don’t want to be a burden on friends and relatives.
For South Asian families, however, there are added layers of complexity, with elder care shaped by familial, cultural and societal forces.
Now, while these do create a brilliant foundation for support, there are still obstacles to overcome in ensuring that people receive the care they need, including language barriers, certain stigmas and gendered caregiving roles.
Caregiving in South Asian communities is characterised by shared responsibilities among family members, fostering support and unity, as well as a sense of duty and responsibility towards family elders.
Multiple generations also often live under one roof and this kind of arrangement can facilitate excellent standards of continuous care, as well as emotional support and ongoing companionship.
However, certain challenges do present themselves. For example, caregiving responsibilities often lie with female relatives because of traditional gendered expectations. South Asian cultures also put an emphasis on collectivism, where the family or community needs precede those of individual needs, which can have an impact on decisions relating to caregiving.
Research study
Recent research from Brunel University, reported on by Community Care, found that older people in some South Asian communities were reluctant to accept social care support, amid concerns that it could potentially be viewed as a public admission that they were unable to uphold family values.
Traditionally, children or other relatives are expected to provide elder care, but it was also found that many were worried that this wouldn’t take place because of geographical factors (such as children moving overseas) or cultural attitudes.
As such, ensuring that social care serves to support family values, rather than replace them, is vital if people are to be looked after in the way that they need. The hope in this instance is that it would signal to local communities that social care actually enables the continuation of traditional family values and norms in the form of supporting older people.
Culturally attuned Asian home care
Here at Concept Care, we pride ourselves on delivering individually tailored Asian home care packages, each one crafted specifically with an in-depth understanding in mind of the cultural, linguistic and dietary preferences of all our clients and their families.
We have a diverse team of caregivers who are either from Asian backgrounds themselves or who have undergone cultural awareness training to ensure that they can work sensitively, taking cultural practices into account at all times. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the team today.
