The influence of Latino cultural values on the perceived caregiver role of family members with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

ABSTRACT

Objectives

We explored how Latino cultural values play a role in perceived caregiving experiences.

Design

We conducted a qualitative study that used individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with middle-aged and older Latinos who were primary caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). The interview guide consisted of questions about participants’ perceptions of family caregiving and interrelationships between the caregiver and care recipient. The interviews were recorded, translated, and transcribed verbatim. We performed direct content analysis.

Results

Participants were caregivers, 50–75 years old (n = 16), and the majority were female. We identified four cultural values that were salient to participants’ caregiving experiences: (a) familismo, (b) fatalismo (c) marianismo, and (d) machismo.

Conclusion

Latino cultural values influenced the role of caregiving and caregiving roles of family members with ADRD. Future research should consider these values as they affect different familial and health dynamics.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregiving
• cultural values
• Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
• Latinos

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the participants of the study. We also acknowledge the work of research assistants. Financial support was received from the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition (UIC) for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. We thank CAPES Foundation, Brazil, for supporting author Isabela Marques, PhD.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Illinois at Chicago.