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

Jing WangYahui HuangYaqing ZhangFangqi WuBei Wu
Published in: Journal of aging & social policy (2022)
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.
Keyphrases
  • healthcare
  • long term care
  • mental health
  • palliative care
  • quality improvement
  • primary care
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  • global health