Objectives: To identify and understand factors that influence the relationships in the environment of family care provided by live-in immigrant caregivers.
Methods: Interpretive qualitative study from a phenomenological perspective, using in-depth interviews, discussion groups and participant observation. The observation unit was the Sevillian families (Spain) with elderly dependents and a live-in female immigrant caregiver. Analysis units considered were health, care, dependence, gender, ethnicity and social class. Categories were analysed using QSR-NUD*ISTVivo9. After saturation, we triangulated between researchers, disciplines, sources and techniques to validate the results.
Results: Factors of cultural discovery or clash were: language, religion, food, concept of space and time, caregiver's name and the attitudes held by both the hiring family, related to its social class, and by caregivers.
Conclusions: Interpersonal relationships are the most important factor: an egalitarian relationship based on good treatment is beneficial to all involved. Knowing these codes will improve the quality of professional care in the family.
Keywords: aged; caregivers; emigration and immigration; gender identity.
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