FAMILY CAREGIVING DURING TRANSITIONAL CARE: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF THAI-ISAN FAMILY CAREGIVERS PROVIDING CARE FOR SURVIVING STROKE OLDER ADULTS

Providing family caregiving during transitional care of a stroke patient is the most challenging for family caregivers. This is because of the shift in the care environment from a hospital with an organizational culture to a home with a traditional culture. Yet, cultural influences on family caregiving during transitional care are not well studied. This ethnographic study aims to describe the family caregiving of older Thai-Isan stroke survivors through the transition from hospital to home. This study employs Lininger's culture care theory (CCT) as the theoretical framework and utilizes the ethnonursing method to discover cultural knowledge. Data was collected through a demographic questionnaire, participant observations, and a semi-structured interview. Data was analyzed using the Four Phases of the Data Analysis Enabler. Fifteen dyads of older stroke patients and their family caregivers were recruited following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research settings included Srinagarind Hospital units and key informants’ homes in a Thai-Isan community.