The Influence of National Context on Future Care Provision Planning for Korean Parents with Children Living with Disabilities: A Cross-National Study

Abstract

A pervasive concern of ageing parents or family member with adult children living with disabilities is planning for their future. This topic is essential to address as it is highly likely that people living with disabilities living at the family home who do not have an alternative support network beyond their family members, will become dependent on some sort of formal care service. The cultural background and geographical location of all families have a substantial influence on service provision, treatment, processes, and future care planning processes. The aim of the study is to explore how country contexts shape the plans and possibilities for future care provision of Korean parents with children living with disabilities in New Zealand and Korea (Korea, in this thesis, means South Korea). To gain a deeper understanding of Korean parents' plans, experiences and perceptions around future care provision for their children living with disabilities, a qualitative approach was employed to collect rich and lived information from participants. Using purposive and snowball sampling, a total of 36 participants were recruited and interviewed: both Korean parents of children living with disabilities and professionals working with them (10 professionals and eight parent participants from New Zealand; and nine professionals and nine parent participants from Korea). The collected data were analysed through conventional analysis methods. Drawing on the findings of the study, the researcher concludes that future care planning is still 'in process' in both Korea and New Zealand contexts. Korean parents living in Korea and New Zealand all expressed deep concerns and anxiety related to planning for their children's future care, yet lacked concrete plans and substantive practice. The findings of the study suggest that the strong familism culture prevalent in Korea is creating a 'Self- Service' model of welfare in Korea, where parents have to, actively and directly, be involved in almost every aspect of care provision for their children living with disabilities. This makes it demanding to provide adequate care on a daily basis, leaving no, or limited, me and space to plan for future care provision. The strong familism embedded within Korean culture creates dilemmas among migrant parents living in a host country when planning for their children's future care provision. It is also evident that Korean parents living in New Zealand perceive the state service system as a 'Safety-Net', which may lead to state dependency for some parents living in New Zealand. Nevertheless, planning for future care provision for Korean children living with disabilities in New Zealand is perceived to be significantly impacted by cultural barriers, including a lack of culturally appropriate services and provision of information for Korean parents, pressure of independent living, lack of understanding around service system, and language barriers. The study suggests a development of a 'Korean Model of Welfare' or the 'New East Asian Model of Welfare' through state-level involvement in encouraging, empowering, and strengthening independent family functioning while reflecting the traditional characteristics of cultural values. Such a model is intended also to stimulate family functioning among the Korean parents living in New Zealand to minimise the level of state dependency evident among some parents.