The Lived Experiences of South Asian Adult-Child Caregivers to Parents with Dementia Living in Western Nations

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Natt, Kiran

Issue Date

2025-12-01

Type

Capstone

Language

en

Keywords

dementia , South Asian , adult children , parents , caregivers , Western nations , lived experiences , filial duty , systemic barriers , mental health , stigma , coping , burden

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

This capstone has found that while there are some positive elements to providing care to a parent with dementia within South Asian communities in Western countries, it is also a role that comes with many challenges. The caregivers face various systemic barriers related to medical systems, culture, religion, and language when trying to access external support. A cultural expectation of filial duty to care for one’s parent in old age without help can also act as a barrier to seeking support. These barriers leave adult children in a position of taking on most of the care on their own. Minimal awareness of dementia within South Asian communities leaves caregivers struggling to learn about it while trying to adopt a new way of life. Caregivers often do not open up because of the ignorance, stigma, and shame surrounding dementia and the social pressure to be self-sufficient. This can prevent them from opening up to family and friends about what they are going through. The hardships ultimately result in decreased mental wellbeing for South Asian adult-child caregivers which warrant the need for mental health support specific to these populations.

Description

Citation

Publisher

License

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess

Journal

Volume

Issue

PubMed ID

DOI

ISSN

EISSN