An Ethnography of Care Work Across Borders

This ground-breaking ethnography illuminates the theory and practice of "aging in place" by examining the relationships between migrant live-in care workers of older people in Israel, and their local employers and family members. Daniella Arieli begins her investigation with a discussion of her own experiences of employing a care worker from overseas for her mother and sets this book in its interdisciplinary context, while looking at how best to promote the health and wellbeing of both family members and carers. The two central sections of the book focus on narratives of care workers and family members, respectively, with topics such as trust and suspicion, intimacy and abuse, ambivalence and ambiguity, transnational familial relationships, personal transformations, and cultural differences discussed. This book is an invaluable contribution to the literature on ageing and family relations, transnational care work and the movement of healthcare practitioners around the world. It is of interest to advanced students and scholars in the fields of nursing, anthropology, sociology, social work, geography, and gerontology.

Daniella Arieli is a social anthropologist and an action researcher working at Emek Yezreel Academic College, Israel.

Acknowledgements Section I Introduction: What Is This Book About 01a. The Context of this Book 01b. How it all Began: Searching for a Care Worker for Mum Section II Care Workers 02a. Emily's Miracle: The Hope for a Better Life 02b. Narashtra's Secrets: Plans and Unexpected Changes 02c. Toma's Journey to the Holy Land: Care Migration and Pilgrimage 02d. Linda's Tears: On Humiliation and Abuse 02e. Marsha: Choices and the Lack of Choices 02f. Lucy, Lisa and the Limitationf of Freedom: Autonomy, Morality, and Control 02g. Luna and Cindy: Living on the Edges of the Law 02h. Davis's Victory: Working Outside Section III Family Members 03a. Dubi and the Fight with Bureaucracy: The Overly-Successful Arrangement 03b. Eden's Dilemmas: Morality and Dual Obligations 03c. Ella, Anna, and Ilana: On Expectations, Disappointments, and Vulnerability 03d. The Dispute between Eric and Lihi: One Family, Different Voices 03e. Helena's Insomnia: Cold Interests, Guilty Feelings, and Tough Regulations 03f. Rachel Blows Up: Living on the Edge of Sanity Section IV Transnational Intimacies 4a. Rocky's Wedding: An Essay about Co-presence Section V Two Ending Chapters 05a. Writing about Vulnerable Matters: Anthropological Journey at Home 05b. Conclusions: A Journey towards Empathy Index