Attitudes toward community-based services among Japanese American families

Purpose: This descriptive study explored attitudes toward community-based long-term care services and factors influencing service utilization among Japanese American families. Design and Methods: Using grounded theory methodology, the Japanese American sample included 26 family caregivers, 4 persons receiving care, and 14 professional providers (n = 44). Results: Attitudes toward services were identified along six dimensions: ability to meet care needs, autonomy in daily life, quality of care and staff, cost, emotional connotations, and social and physical environment. Participants used formal services in a dynamic manner, meeting both episodic and chronic needs. Families played an active role in sustaining and augmenting the caregiving situation, regardless of living arrangement. Implications: This research highlights the range of criteria included in attitude formation about services and the dynamic nature of the interplay between families and formal services.