Working with Families

In caring for Vietnamese older adults, the hierarchical tradition places the eldest male as the primary decision maker in the family. If there is no son in the family, the eldest son-in-law or the eldest male relative becomes the primary decision maker. However, the caregiving of Vietnamese older adults usually fall upon the eldest son’s wife or unmarried family members. For a much more detailed description of working with families of older adults with dementia and of caregiving and family issues, see Tran et al (2006).