Transformation of Traditional Care in Northern Thailand: Qualitative Analysis of Family Caregivers for the Elderly

Abstract

Thailand is experiencing demographic changes owing to an increase in its older population. In this study we focus on the northeastern part of Thailand, where community ties are strong, to elucidate the relationship between caregivers and care recipients in the provision and reception of effective support. The aim of this study is to clarify the sharing of care among relatives and communities, and to describe their burden focusing on both negative and positive aspects, through semi-structured interviews in order to establish an innovative and cultural approach to alleviating the burden. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 primary caregivers in October 2018. The Grounded Theory Approach (GTA) was employed to stratify their narrative related to caregiving. The family caregiver burden consists of four parts: Psychological burden, physical burden, time constraint, and economic burden. The process of determining the caregiving burden takes into account not only the nature of the long-term care provided, but also the three mediator factors of sense of mission as a family, the benefit of providing care, and the Buddhist faith. In addition, the moderator factor of sharing care among family members and relatives alleviates the caregiver burden. Based on the study results, it was concluded that positive feelings toward care provision lead to motivation to continue quality care. Therefore, in long-term care support policy, it is necessary not only to reduce the burden of long-term care but also to take into consideration Thai culture and Buddhist beliefs, and to find support that makes nursing care worthwhile and meaningful.