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)
JournalJournal of Aging and Social Policy
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2022

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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