Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-29-2020

Abstract

Responsibilities and cultural expectations can be somewhat different for Latino males and females. In general, males are expected to be more independent and dominant while females are expected to be more nurturing [1, 2]. Similar to other populations, caregiving for elderly relatives has traditionally been a role adopted by women in Latino cultures [3]. Furthermore, first-born or oldest Latinas are sometimes expected to take on the role of caregiver with younger siblings and/or aging parents [4]. McDermott and Mendez-Luck [5] found that this caregiving role was often cultivated at an early age through a continuous, formal and informal socialization process that was gendered through modeling behaviors and care expectations primarily directed at women in the family rather than men.

Practitioners interviewed in this qualitative study reported that daughters were frequently involved in the overall treatment and care of Mexican-American older adults. Some of the expectations included accompanying the parent to doctor visits or treatment; ensuring treatment or medication regimens were followed; serving as primary caregiver; providing information to providers in order to ensure more accuracy; and providing emotional and social support. For purposes of this article, the terms Mexican-American, Hispanic and Latino/a were used interchangeably.

Comments

©2020

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.33790/jmhsb1100120

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