Family Dynamics in Cancer Rehabilitation of Older Migrants – Strengthening Family Resources and Supporting Needs

Background: Family carers of older migrants, notably their adult children, are important patient resources. They engage in communication and interpretation between the patient and healthcare professionals, and take active part in care, treatment, and practical tasks in the cancer trajectory. Collective family structures in migrant families substantiate intergenerational care practices. While this is acknowledged as an important cultural value, it also entails burdens and dilemmas that affect the entire family’s well-being.

Aim: To explore family dynamics in cancer rehabilitation of older migrants and identify family resources and support needs.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 patients and seven caregivers. Patients were above 50 years old, originating from countries outside Denmark, and in treatment for various cancer types. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings: Strengthening dynamics included collective organization and coordination of the patient’s care needs, cultivating a positive and hopeful attitude, maintaining contact with and support from extended family, leading to closer family ties, and supporting the patients’ rehabilitation. Debilitating dynamics included mutual protective buffering, uneven care distribution, development of new and old family conflicts leading to family estrangement and care neglect.

Discussion/Conclusion: Professionals with low intercultural self-efficacy express difficulties in navigating family communication and dynamics in cancer care in ethnic minority families. Cultural assumptions about family dynamics in migrant families may overlook dilemmas and conflicts that hinder the patient’s rehabilitation and family wellbeing.

Clinical implications: This study raises awareness of family dynamics that can guide professionals’ support of family carers' roles in older migrants’ cancer trajectories.