Talking aging care for ordinary people: Caregiving at home for dementia in three different countries

Throughout the world ordinary people are caring for equally ordinary people who are living with dementia (PLWD). However, the care available differs in different parts of the world. In this paper we explore the caregiving that is available in three different countries: the People’s Republic of China, Cyprus and the United States of America. In China and Cyprus interviews were carried out with caregivers of PLWD who were still living in their own homes. The PLWD in the U.S. were no longer living in their own homes but had moved to residential facilities where it proved almost impossible to interview their carers. In addition, interviews were carried out with U.S. prison Corrections Officers who become de facto carers for older prisoners who develop dementia. In China most caregiving is carried out by family members who are not assisted by immigrant caregivers. Cyprus is in a period of transition. Traditionally family members, usually women, cared for PLWD, but as more women are working outside the home more of the caregiving is being carried out by migrants. In the U.S., much of the caregiving is provided by migrants, whether the PLWDs are living in their own homes or in residential facilities. Many immigrant caregivers do not speak the language of the PLWD for whom they care and receive minimal or no training for their role. Instead, they must learn on the job. We end by stressing the importance of providing training and simple resources for carers of PLWD.