Abstract

Quality of life and client’s satisfaction with Long-term Services and Support (LTSS) in later life are influenced by care preference and timely plans. Ethnic, and racial disparities in the use of both informal formal and formal LTSS are reported. Consequently, the diversity in LTSS decision-making has gained attention in research and policy with a predominant focus on migration background, acculturation, and ethnicity. However, LTSS preference data for older Kenyan immigrants are homogenized into the African Americans block without the acknowledgment of their inherent cultural and ethnic diversity. The development of culturally competent, effective, and responsive policies across the LTSS continuum requires factoring in individual variations that influence preferences. The aim of this study was to provide in-depth descriptions of future LTSS planning and preference among older Kenyan immigrants. In this qualitative exploratory study, data from eight older Kenyan immigrants were collected using semi-structured interview questions. A thematic analysis supported the development of five themes financial preparedness, medical insurance coverage, communicating future LTSS plan and preferences with family, home-based LTSS, and long-term care facility based LTSS. In essence, it was identified that older Kenyan immigrants make plans by saving financial resources, getting medical coverage, and engaging in shared decision-making. Older adults prefer receiving LTSS at home over long-term care (LTC) facility, which is influenced by different factors such as the need for privacy, mistrust of LTC facilities, maintaining cultural norm, and avoiding burdening children.

Advisor

Kathryn Elliott

Committee Member

Aaron Hoy

Committee Member

Jeff Buchanan

Date of Degree

2022

Language

english

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Program of Study

Aging Studies

College

Humanities and Social Sciences

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Gerontology Commons

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Rights Statement

In Copyright