Abstract

The focus of this study is Amish experiences of older adult caregiving. As an ethnic and religious minority group, the population of Amish in North America is doubling every 18 to 20 years, increasing from an estimated 235,000 in 2008, to 282,000 in 2013 (Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, 2013). Cultural values of the Amish include separation from mainstream society, avoidance of modern technology and an adherence to a rural, agrarian lifestyle according to scripture (Hurst & McConnell, 2010). In spite of sequestration from mainstream society, there is growing evidence that the Amish communities are increasingly seeking healthcare services outside their communities, especially when caring for aging elders (Cates, 2005; Gillium, et al., 2011; Kueny, 2012). A large proportion of the Amish population is over the age of 60 due to high rates of longevity and an overall retention rate of 85% (Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, 2013). Characteristics of Amish older adults that increase their health disparity risk include their ethnic minority group status, rural location and lack of experience interacting with Western healthcare (WHC) systems (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2000; Ashton et al., 2003).

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3583890; ProQuest document ID: 1614096815. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Helen Mavis Farrar, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Beta Delta at-Large

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Phenomenology

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Amish Individuals, Caregiving, Geriatric Patients

Advisor

Janet Sullivan Wilson

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Degree Year

2014

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2020-05-06

Full Text of Presentation

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