Examining satisfaction with live-in foreign home care in Israel from the perspectives of care recipients, their family members, and their foreign home care workers

Abstract

Objectives: This pilot study evaluates satisfaction with foreign home care arrangement from the perspectives of older adults, their family members, and their foreign home care workers.

Methods: A matched cross-sectional sample of 148 family members and foreign home care workers and 90 older care recipients completed a satisfaction survey in the years 2007–2008.

Results: Foreign home care workers’ satisfaction was directly associated with family members’ and care recipients’ satisfaction. In addition, the well-being of older care recipients and foreign home care workers was directly associated with their satisfaction with this arrangement. Finally, there was an inverse association between care recipients’ cognitive functioning and family members’ satisfaction.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the complex associations between the various stakeholders involved in this caregiving arrangement. It is possible that better working conditions would result in improved satisfaction with services of all parties involved.

Keywords:

• Israel
• migration
• social care
• satisfaction with services

Acknowledgments

The study was funded by the German Israeli Foundation of Scientific Research and Development.

Notes

1. The term foreign workers is used rather than the more politically correct term migrant workers, as this is the common term used in Israeli society. This term better reflects the attitudes toward these workers as foreigners who are not migrants and, thus, their stay in the country is expected to be temporary.