A Scoping Review of Dementia Care Experiences in Migrant Aged Care Workforce

• Published in: The Gerontologist Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. e105 - e116
• Main Authors: Adebayo, Bola, Nichols, Pam, Heslop, Karen, Brijnath, Bianca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01-03-2020
• Subjects: Adult foster care; Attrition; Caregivers; Dementia; Discrimination; Income; Migrant workers; Primary care; Professional training; Psychosocial factors; Quality of care; Research design; Risk factors; Support services; Systematic review; Workforce; Working conditions; Staff retention; Residential aged care facilities; Culture; Cognitive impairment
• ISSN: 0016-9013; 1758-5341
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnz027

Abstract
Background and Objectives
In high-income countries, an increasing number of people living with dementia in residential aged care facilities are being cared for by an increasingly multicultural workforce. The purpose of this review was to investigate migrant aged care workers’ dementia care experiences and to identify enablers and challenges that influence their retention.
Research Design and Methods
Utilizing Arksey and O’ Malley’s approach, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched for peer-reviewed studies published from 2000 to November 2018. Selection criteria were studies with original research, focusing on dementia care among migrant aged care workers, and conducted in high-income countries.
Results
Seventeen articles were identified incorporating 13 (76.47%) qualitative, 1 (5.88%) quantitative, and 3 (17.65%) mixed method designs. A limited understanding of dementia and experiences of dementia care were reported among some migrant care workers in residential aged care facilities. The identified enablers to retention were the availability of organization support services; professional development opportunities; reciprocity and mutual respect between migrant care workers, care recipients, and coworkers; and good working conditions. Factors such as discrimination from care recipients and coworkers and limited understanding of workplace culture were identified as barriers to migrant care workforce retention.
Discussion and Implications
Migrant care workers are valuable contributors to the aged care workforce. It is important to consider their cultural perceptions of dementia in relation to care provision. In addition, their exposure to occupational psychosocial risk factors in conjunction with the challenges associated with resettlement and dementia care needs to be addressed.