Eldercare work, migrant care workers, affective care and subjective proximity

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Migration
• Emotional Anthropology

Background:

• Migrant care workers are crucial in New Zealand's eldercare sector.
• This demographic often faces unique challenges and vulnerabilities.
• Understanding their experiences is vital for ethical care provision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of migrant care workers in New Zealand's eldercare settings.
• To focus on the affective components of their work.
• To examine the intersection of care work, migration status, and citizenship.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• 29 migrant care workers in Auckland and Wellington participated.
• Analysis drew on emotional anthropology and moral geography.

Main Results:

• Workers experienced vulnerability to exploitation and racial stereotyping.
• Affective labor was used to establish worker worth and eligibility for residency.
• Home-based caregivers faced blurred emotional boundaries and demands for commitment.
• Fear of deportation and obligations to families abroad were significant stressors.

Conclusions:

• Subjective proximity and emotional/moral trajectories mediate worker experiences.
• Transnational ties and citizenship aspirations significantly influence migrant care workers.
• Addressing these factors is crucial for supporting this workforce and ensuring quality eldercare.