Family Caregiving for Immigrant Seniors Living With Heart Disease and Stroke: Chinese Canadian Perspective

Abstract

Heart disease and stroke are two leading causes of death and disability among older Canadians. Family support and caregiving are crucial to the positive functional recovery and psychological well-being of heart disease and stroke survivors. Based on focus groups and individual interviews with Chinese family caregivers in the Canadian province of Ontario, we explored the caregiver's experience, including the challenges, needs, and service gaps in providing care for immigrant seniors with heart disease and stroke. We found that caregiving practices and the strategies used to cope with caregiving challenges varied by gender, ethnicity, age, and length of migration. We provide recommendations for narrowing the gaps in caregiving at the end of the article.

Notes

¹An earlier version of this article was presented at the 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Seoul, South Korea, June 2013.