Keeping it in the family: caregiving in Australian-Greek families.

Family-based caregiving refers to the daily provision of help to a co-resident family relative with the usual activities of daily living, custody and protection of a dependent relative at risk of self-injury, and support of a person with physical, developmental and/or mental disability or frailty due to ageing. Many reports from western studies refer to the caregiving burdens, stress and strains. A common view of migrant peoples is that they 'look after their own' to a greater extent than do English-speaking groups and that their closer connections with ethno-specific community organisations and with their extended family networks provides more opportunities for assistance and support so that caregiving is shared and the burdens are reduced. A study was carried out with 300 Australian-Greek families in Melbourne where 150 were providing family-based caregiving, and these were age and gender matched with friends or acquaintances who had no such duties. Most care was provided by women, although almost 20% of carers were men. A wide range of disabilities and illnesses were receiving help and care in the caregiving families among care recipients aged from childhood to advanced old age. Distinct evidence of caregiving burden was found to a significant degree. Gender differences were apparent in the type of disorders managed, in the perceived severity of caregiving duties provided and in the total range of activities engaged in. The ethno-specific community organisations and extended family networks played little part in providing assistance to caregivers which challenges the myths of a close-knit migrant community looking after its own. Qualitative reports of concerns for future caregiving were expressed and the implications for future service needs are discussed.