Domestic Helpers as Frontline Workers in Home-Based Long-Term Care in China: Opportunities and Challenges

Jing Wang, Yahui Huang, Yaqing Zhang, Fangqi Wu, Bei Wu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Domestic helpers (also called baomu or jiazhengfuwuyuan in Chinese) enter personal residences to provide care and services. This study explored challenges and opportunities facing the long-term care (LTC) domestic service in urban China from the perspectives and experiences of domestic helpers (n = 25) and their employers (older adults or their family, n = 25), domestic service company managers (n = 8) and industry association staff (n = 6). Challenges identified pertain to the domestic helper-older adult relationship, day-to-day care, training, domestic service company role, and workforce shortages and instability. Opportunities include possibilities for supporting career development and increased access to social welfare and medical assistance, enhancing person-centered care for older adults by helping domestic helpers build core competencies, and establishing peer support and connections through mobile technologies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)611-630
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Aging and Social Policy
Volume35
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Keywords

  • domestic helper
  • domestic service
  • long-term care
  • person-centered care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Demography
  • Gerontology
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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