Caregiving for Foreign-Born Older Adults With Dementia

This study examines how nativity, dementia classification, and age of migration (AOM) of older foreign-born (FB) adults are associated with caregiver psychological well-being and care burden.

We used linked data from Round 1 and Round 5 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study and Round 5 of the National Study of Caregiving for a sample of nondementia caregivers (n = 941), dementia caregivers (n = 533), and matched care recipients. Ordinary least squares regression models were estimated, adjusting for caregiver characteristics.

Relative to nondementia caregivers, dementia caregivers were more likely to provide care for an older FB adult (8.69% vs. 26.70%), reported more assistance with caregiving activities, worse quality of relationship with care recipients, and higher care burden than nondementia caregivers. In adjusted models, interactions of nativity status × dementia and AOM × dementia revealed that overall, caregivers of older FB adults with dementia who migrated in late life (50+) reported lower psychological well-being than those caring for older FB older adults who migrated at (20-49 years) and (0-19 years). Moderating effects of AOM on the link between dementia caregiving and care burden were not observed.

Age of migration of older FB adults with probable dementia may have unique effects on the caregiver's psychological well-being. Our results underscore the importance of considering sociocultural factors of FB adults beyond nativity and the need for research to develop culturally appropriate interventions to enhance psychological well-being and reduce the care burden among dementia caregivers.