Social Workers’ Attempts to Navigate Among the Elderly,Their Families,and Foreign Home Care Workers in the Haredi Community

Design and Methods

The study was based on the interpretive hermeneutic methodology, aimed at understanding phenomena through the observation of everyday interactions, to better “grasp” social workers’ professional lived experiences when encountering elderly UOJ clients and their families. In the context of FHCWs, the study utilized a qualitative design; this method is suitable for answering questions of meaning, sense making, and subjective experiences (Friesen, Henriksson, & Saevi, 2012). The study was approved by the University of Haifa’s Ethics Committee.

The study was conducted using a purposeful sample (Patton, 2002) focused on selecting participants who best represented their population and reflected the researched phenomenon. The research sample consisted of 18 social workers in daily contact with elderly UOJ clients throughout Israel who employed FHCWs. Participants included three men and 15 women: eight ultraorthodox, five modern orthodox, and five secular individuals with 1.5 to 45 years of social work experience. The social workers in the sample worked with older clients for 1 to 35 years, in private, public, and third-sector institutions, as well as in hospitals, welfare offices, and nonprofit organizations (see Table 1).

OPEN IN VIEWER

Table 1.

Description of Interviewees.

Name of interviewee	Age	Years of social work experience	Years of geriatric social work experience	Place of employment	Degree of religiosity
Rivka	54	24	4	private	religious
Yocheved	27	2	1	public	UOJ
Or	40	15	7	third-sector	religious
Chen	44	9	9	third-sector	secular
Sharon	30+	8	6	private	secular
Lea	40+	10+	4	private	UOJ
Liora	36	15	15	public	secular
Rachel	60	35	35	public	UOJ
Rivka	39	15	15	public	UOJ
Michael	30	5	3	private	secular
Nurit	25	2	2	third-sector	UOJ
Iris	46	22	12	third-sector	secular
Yaakov	35	12	10	public	UOJ
Michal	28	5	2	third-sector	UOJ
Yael	32	4	4	private	religious
Sara	42	17	10	third-sector	UOJ
Orit	25	1.5	1	public	religious
Avraham	30	7	5	third-sector	religious

Note. UOJ = ultraorthodox Jewish.

A semistructured, in-depth interview guide was developed to better understand the participants’ experiences and attributed meanings. The interview included three major topics—being a social worker working with older UOJ clients and their families: “What are the most important tools for a social worker working with older UOJ clients?”; dilemmas and sensitive issues in working with older UOJ clients who employ FHCWs: “What are the central needs of older UOJ clients and their families regarding FHCWs?”; being a social worker working with older UOJ clients over time: “What changes do you perceive in the UOJ community regarding treatment in the context of FHCWs?”

The interviews were conducted by UOJ social work students who first underwent a training and reflection process to gain insights about their personal background, attitudes toward and opinions about old age and FHCWs, and how they identify themselves in relation to the participants. As a result of this process, the interviewers gained self-awareness, enabling them to better focus on the participants’ experiences (Finlay & Gough, 2008). Participants were recruited by contacting relevant welfare agencies and organizations. Each interview lasted 60 to 90 min, and was recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Two researchers were involved in analyzing the data, after which they separately conducted thematic content data analysis, prior to a joint comparative examination of the individual analyses. The analysis was performed using a horizontal coding process by finding statements reflecting the participants’ experiences with the phenomenon, for example, identifying perceptions about aging in the UOJ community. The next step involved grouping the statements into units of meaning, including quotes describing the participants’ experiences and perceptions, for example, gathering quotes relating to the different ways in which the elderly perceive FHCWs. The following step involved identifying emerging themes by shifting from descriptive to interpretive levels of analysis, for example, conceptualization of the social workers’ perceptions regarding the unique position of FHCWs in UOJ families. During the content analysis, the researchers discussed disparities and sought agreement regarding theme content and interpretation of meanings. Data were organized based on the agreed-upon themes identified in participants’ narratives (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009).

Trustworthiness (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) was achieved in several ways. The interview material was first transcribed verbatim, enabling introspection into original narrations, after which the material was further reviewed separately by each of the researchers. A peer cross-examination was then held by working with another experienced colleague, serving as an external expert in qualitative research, who made comments and analyzed the quotes together with the researchers.

Furthermore, both researchers are involved with ultraorthodox students, teaching in a social work education program tailored to the UOJ community. Therefore, we performed ongoing reflection and bracketing processes. In addition, we acquainted ourselves with relevant aspects of this unique community (Finlay & Gough, 2008). Finally, the wide range of participants who narrated similar experiences contributed to the study’s trustworthiness (Patton, 2002).

Social workers confronting barriers and challenges in integrating FHCWs into the aging UOJ family

The essential role of social workers is to develop formal and informal support systems to address the needs of aging UOJ families. This role includes both challenges and barriers when social workers assess services and home care treatment, concerning the unique needs of this population. To integrate the new concept of service, the social workers need to be aware of the UOJ lifestyle. Social workers suggest FHCW services as a solution for UOJ families; however, they are also aware that this new, shared reality elicits the various cultural differences, barriers, and challenges. Social workers indicate the existence of the different basic worldviews, which distinguish between the Jewish orthodox and the FHCWs’ cultural way of life. However, alongside the differences, the social workers also describe the joint mechanisms that bridge the gap, enabling the existence of this shared reality.

Social workers are aware of the Jewish orthodox lifestyle, characterized by a meticulous observance of rules regarding food, physical contact, gender, modesty, and the Sabbath, and the difficulties involved in integrating an outsider into this cultural context.

For the ultraorthodox, FHCWs are, first and foremost, gentiles and they don’t want gentiles hanging around their home. Especially among Holocaust survivors, but actually among all UOJs, just the thought of a foreign worker is absolutely shocking. They don’t want to hear of such a thing . . . Will she touch my dishes? Will she touch my food? Will she bring non-kosher food into my home? (Hen, 9 years experience)

The social worker emphasizes the threat felt by elderly UOJs from the mere encounter with a person from another culture, and all the more so from intimate and daily interaction with a foreign (gentile) culture. The role of social workers as service providers is to understand that a segregated community (the UOJ society) experiences fear and caution regarding foreigners, perceived as individuals who will prevent them from maintaining their accustomed lifestyle, out of unequivocal faith, and therefore from fulfilling the need for proper observance of the Halacha (Jewish law). Furthermore, social workers are sensitive to the cultural gaps that encumber the integration of FHCWs, stemming from issues of modesty and the gender-based cultural separation that characterizes the UOJ community, as is illustrated below:

There is a very serious problem with gender. For example, married elderly couples living together, who want to bring in a male or female foreign home care worker, encounter a modesty problem either way. The man doesn’t want a female FHCW in his home and the woman doesn’t want a male . . . If they live at home with their children, and there are some unwed male children, the parents don’t want a female FHCW to be around. (Or, 15 years experience)

To facilitate adequate home care, social workers describe the challenge resulting from the mere joint stay of the FHCWs with the older adults. This uncomfortable situation relates to the separation between men and women, which is characteristic of the UOJ community. This separation is part of the Halacha (Jewish law) forbidding physical proximity between women and men. This issue is further confirmed in the case of families running a multigenerational household, where the presence of a female FHCW causes difficulties in the household’s daily functioning.

The social worker’s goal is to provide older ultraorthodox adults with a satisfactory solution, including their day-to-day needs and food preparation. This basic function is accompanied by a significant barrier related to kosher dietary laws:

. . . even when a FHCW is brought in, the families often prefer that the daughters will cook the food and bring it to the male or female older adult, so as to avoid kosher-related problems. (Rachel, 45 years experience)

Rachel highlights a challenge, stemming from the meticulous observance of kosher dietary laws in the UOJ community: even when a FHCW is brought in and assigned the cooking role, some families are still concerned about this issue, thereby neutralizing a basic part of the FHCW’s role. It seems that family members perceive the FHCW’s role as task-oriented.

Another aspect that relates to the social worker’s role is managing the communication barrier in integrating FHCWs into UOJ homes. This challenge is significantly important in light of the fact that only a minority of the ultraorthodox speaks English:

The issue of communication is very difficult; most FHCWs are English-speaking Filipinos, and the Israeli UOJ community is largely non-English-speaking. So, the FHCWs speak English, but neither the children nor the grandchildren speak it . . . There are a lot of communication problems . . . The older adult may be very learned in religious studies and want to pass on his knowledge and explain—yet, he cannot communicate . . . (Sara, 17 years experience)

In contrast, despite the vast differences between FHCWs and UOJs, social workers also describe a number of common denominators that may help both parties bridge the gap and enable the promotion of improved quality of life for UOJ older adults. These common denominators are predominantly based on the FHCW’s respect for the Jewish religion, which facilitates a common understanding about life in the shared reality.

Many of the FHCWs are religious, either Hindu (from India) or Christian, so in most cases, they know about religion . . . They first understand on the basic level and then learn the logistics, little by little . . . When the older adult prays, the FHCW may say something along the lines of “he can’t speak on the phone right now, he’s praying.” They internalize these things. They have a lot of respect for this because they are often religiously devout in their own religion, and so they accept this. (Rivka, 24 years experience)

The religious background, and the respect attributed to religion and its associated rituals, which characterize the religious lifestyle, help the social workers integrate the FHCWs into the domestic-cultural UOJ framework. They understand the value of religion in the life of the older adult, which enable learning and the internalization of the daily routine. Social workers perceive this internalization by the FHCW’s attention to the smallest technical details, such as prayer taking precedence over a phone conversation.

Social workers act as care management mediators, who connect elderly UOJs with FHCWs who have similar cultural attributes:

FHCWs find themselves among a segregated group with rigid laws. If they come from a culture that also enforces rigid laws (as is the case regarding all FHCWs), the match can be very fitting. If they come from a very segregated culture, it is easier for them to mimic and adapt themselves to the situation. (Sharon, 8 years experience)

Social workers realize that the chances for compatibility and adaptability to the shared reality increase when the two cultures share similar characteristics, such as defined rules and norms confined within a social context of impenetrable borders.

Often, the Filipinos that come in are Catholic Christians and devout believers. They are familiar with the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament, and come from a culture that appreciates the devoted care of older adults by their children . . . in the Philippines, there are no home care workers and caring for older adults is the responsibility of the family . . . (Orit, 1.5 years experience)

Social workers’ emphasis on FHCWs’ knowledge of Old Testament–based sources serves as a shared resource of both Christian and Jewish traditions. This provides a basis for interpersonal acquaintance. The transformation of the sources to behavioral norms enables social workers to mobilize the family in preparation for providing care for the older adult. In this regard, among both Filipino and Hindu (from India) FHCWs, it is customary for the adult children in the family to dutifully assist their elderly parents. All of the above create a foundation upon which to establish relationships between FHCWs and UOJ families. Thus, despite the diversity, and because of the commonalities, social workers are able to address this unique relationship and construct it by building a sense of closeness and belongingness. A further description to the close caring within the relationship is illustrated by the following quote:

In many cases, the FHCWs stay with them for the Shiva (the seven-day Jewish mourning ritual), as if they are part of the family. This is beautiful to see: the differences; the two worlds, and how they manage to build a bridge between them. The family also greatly appreciates the FHCW’s work with the older adult and the parting of ways is often very difficult . . . I met a FHCW who had learned to speak Yiddish and was treated very kindly by the family; they taught him Yiddish and they were very happy with him. (Rivka, 15 years experience)

What is clear from the social workers’ descriptions of objective difficulties, barriers, and diversity is that they were all found to be manageable. Thus, a warm and humane close relationship is created between the UOJ family and the FHCW who accompanies them, often even after the death of the older adult, when the separation also becomes part of the shared reality. A further illustration of close relationships is the ability to overcome the language barrier when there is a shared desire to learn and teach a unique language, such as Yiddish, which is even more commonly spoken by ultraorthodox older adults than Hebrew, which is considered the holy language. This theme describes a shift—from a task-specific model of care arrangement to a more extend one.

“Even the rabbi has a FHCW”: Social workers’ skills and efforts to collaborate and maintain aging in place in UOJ older adults’ families

Social workers who specialize in gerontology are committed to enabling older adults to remain in their own homes and maintain their independence as much as possible. To facilitate this value, they collaborate with organizations and families using their professional knowledge and skills. Social workers position themselves as a source of knowledge, for the UOJ families in different ways. One of the ways is through their awareness of the UOJ community’s value of honoring one’s parents, perceived as an important mitzvah (a good deed). Nevertheless, although they are aware that the family takes full responsibility for the care of its elderly, the complex reality of home nursing care still requires additional solutions.

The UOJ community copes with very difficult domestic cases . . . They see taking care of older adults and parents as an important mitzvah . . . And finally, when they [the elderly] are in a very critical state—when a 90-year-old no longer has the physical energy to change his wife’s diaper or vice versa, they bring in a FHCW. When there is no choice, they find solutions compatible with Jewish law. For instance, often the female FHCW does not sleep in the house. (Yael, 4 years experience)

Social workers accept and appreciate the willingness of UOJ families to take care of older adults as an important deed, as a part of the social work ideology to enable older adults in the UOJ community to stay home for as long as they can. They understand that families sometimes deviate from the norm of directly caring for parents and bring in a FHCW as a last resort. Families will only consider bringing in a FHCW when the condition of the older adult deteriorates and there is a crucial need for extensive assistance. At this stage, social workers collaborate and find adequate matches to provide pragmatic solutions consistent with Jewish law. Another aspect of the social worker’s role in this context is to be aware of the recent “winds of change” regarding the presence of FHCWs, which are evident:

In the past, they were more embarrassed about bringing in an FHCW, but things change. There is much more acceptance now than in the past . . . they see older adults walking around with FHCWs in their neighborhoods, and it spreads like wildfire . . . These days, when you go to a synagogue you see more FHCWs. Where previously the older adults didn’t want to bring in foreigners and were very averse to gentiles, these days it’s become more legitimate, more prevalent; it’s become more accepted . . . These days it’s rare to have a family that wouldn’t want to bring in a foreign home care worker; today we are surprised if they don’t want to, because it has become acceptable. (Liora, 15 years experience)

Professionals now describe a new sense of openness toward bringing in FHCWs as an acceptable solution. The use of the metaphor “spreads like wildfire” indicates the increased awareness and legitimacy given to bringing FHCWs into UOJ families, also expressed in the rapid expansion of the phenomenon on both the familial and communal levels. Social workers act in accordance with these changes taking place in the UOJ community regarding bringing FHCWs into their homes. They provide a professional platform for the changing behavioral norms, such as walking to the synagogue with the FHCW. To facilitate the integration of FHCWs, social workers encourage UOJ families to adopt an attitude of flexibility:

I’ve occasionally encountered female UOJ older adults who allowed them [FHCWs] to bring a television set or laptop computer into their room . . . In many cases, they allow them to do this and just look the other way, to make the FHCWs happy . . . Families set up an Internet connection, so the workers can have what they need because all their communication with their families is through the computer these days . . . Some families get their FHCWs laptops or buy them tablets . . . (Abraham, 7 years experience)

The social worker’s role is to address the needs of both sides by adapting a flexible approach. While the UOJ community does not generally allow various forms of secular media into their homes, families who have FHCWs understand that this is a vital need for the workers. Social workers support these changes because they understand that keeping in touch with their families and the world means FHCWs can more dutifully perform their work.

Social workers engaged with UOJ culture respect the rabbis, as both religious authority and leadership figures, acting as role models and serving as a personal example to their communities. They embrace the Halachic legitimacy to bring FHCWs into the rabbis’ homes:

The moment you see one with the rabbi, you know the others are saying “well if the rabbi has one that means it’s okay, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about . . . ” (Liora, 15 years experience)

Unlike in the past, when bringing in FHCWs was considered an eccentric phenomenon, the change is accentuated by rabbis themselves taking in FHCWs. This personal example from such a prominent figure in the community is pervasive and provides unequivocal legitimacy to the practice.

The social worker as mediator and facilitator of a successful relationship in the context of cultural sensitivity

Social workers working with the UOJ community, whether they are secular or ultraorthodox themselves, also undergo changes regarding their role definition and perceptions of their clients in the context of the possibility of bringing in FHCWs. As professionals, they listen carefully to these changes and address them by responding to the needs of both sides. They use their professional knowledge regarding bridging the gap between clients’ needs and cultural sensitivity.

In the beginning, I thought it wouldn’t work for various reasons; just as a person, I thought that bringing FHCWs into UOJ families would never work, [but] now I see that it definitely could work—while working with the family and the older adult, this can actually work very well . . . If there is readiness and willingness from both parties, then the gaps can be bridged. (Yocheved, 2 years experience)

Yocheved focuses her attention on the centrality of social work in driving and instilling change processes in the UOJ community. She highlights the social construction and the significance of her role in light of the changes that have occurred in the UOJ community. As a result of the changes that have taken place regarding bringing in FHCWs, she experience herself as a part of the change process.

It is important to note that this reflection and cultural sensitivity is not only directed toward the UOJ older adult but also toward the needs of the FHCW:

I heard that the FHCWs are very averse to the ultraorthodox because of all the rituals and rules . . . They (the FHCWs) enter a home with all kinds of rules, which they don’t understand at all. They are one against many, they don’t have anybody else in the country; they walk into a family where everyone tries to teach them what’s allowed and what’s not allowed . . . And this is where I come in. (Lea, 10 years experience)

The social worker describes the reality of the FHCW’s entry into the UOJ family, from the foreign worker’s perspective. She positions herself as a mediator between both sides, to make this match successful. In a culturally sensitive way, she assesses the difficulties the FHCW might encounter, as part of the shared multicultural reality. Observing the FHCW, on one hand, and the older adult and his or her family, on the other, allows the social worker to facilitate this unique relationship. In this way, she acts for the benefit of both parties, as is expressed more specifically:

I will not send a female FHCW who wears a sleeveless shirt to a UOJ family. Obviously, I will not send someone who won’t fit in. She really needs to comply with their values, so that they feel comfortable talking to her . . . If she arrives immodestly dressed, this will surely not be to their liking. Most people don’t really insist that she wear a skirt . . . And it’s nice to see that the FHCW understands this and can conform, despite all the requirements and sensitive issues. (Michal, 5 years experience)

The social worker understands that to create an optimal shared reality, both parties have to meet in the middle. In this context, the social worker describes the issue of apparel as a central component related to compatibility issues and the possibility of living together. As a professional social worker, she tries to minimize the tension that may arise from an immodest appearance.

Another aspect included in the social worker’s role is the need to adjust to the UOJ lifestyle:

The female FHCWs need to undergo special training when they first come into UOJ homes, in order to learn about the different kosher procedures, about the Sabbath, rules about cooking carried out by gentiles, as well as other, various kinds of idiosyncratic religious laws . . . I think this has been pretty well incorporated, but we still need to do more . . . We have a Halacha book that we sell, which tackles all these FHCW-related issues, down to the finest details. (Iris, 22 years experience)

To facilitate successful relations between UOJ older adults and their families, and the FHCW, social workers take responsibility and make all of the relevant preparations. They indicate that this special training is a necessity, a prerequisite. The integration of a FHCW requires specific learning regarding care for older adults, in general and, in this context, also specifics unique to the UOJ lifestyle, such as observance of the Sabbath and related rules, observing the separation between meat and dairy, and so on.

Another aspect related to the role of social workers is providing defined and structured expectations and guidelines:

It’s important to give excellent guidance to both parties, to draw up a very organized and specific contract including both parties’ roles, rights, and duties, leaving no questions unanswered, with no loopholes . . . [In this way], the FHCWs know exactly what their role is and the family knows they must respect the worker’s culture; [it is] a true interaction between cultures. (Ya’akov, 12 years experience)

As part of the educational process, social workers respond appropriately to the need to bridge the cultural gaps between the two worlds. The social worker recognizes the importance of giving two-way guidance to both the FHCW and the family. The understanding between the two parties is anchored in a contract, written under the instruction of the social workers, which secures the rights and duties of both parties. The contract relies on the importance of being acquainted with and having respect for the different cultures. Making such a contract emphasizes the benefit of both parties and may protect them from the misunderstandings, future conflicts, and negative emotions that may surface during the course of their intensively shared life together. It seems that the way social workers navigate between FHCWs and UOJ families has enabled the shift to the substitutes model.

Research Limitations and Further Research

The present study provides an in-depth view of the encounter between social workers and older adults and their families within the UOJ community, in the context of FHCWs. This study is among the first to examine the phenomenon of employing FHCWs in faith-based communities. Therefore, further research may benefit by focusing on the different subgroups within this community. In addition, as this study focused on a specific faith-based community, future research should examine and compare the encounter between professionals and the elderly in other faith-based communities regarding FHCWs.

Practical Implications

The role of social workers and other professionals is to navigate between the modern winds of change and traditional values about old age, by way of cultural sensitivity in intervention. Cultural sensitivity is a starting point when relating to the encounter between UOJ older adult clients, FHCWs, and social workers. Social workers can operate within the community and through mediating factors such as rabbis who, as the communities’ religious leaders, can bridge the gap between cultural and professional aspects. Moreover, social workers can use their professional skills to enhance the mediators’ effectiveness and advance the mediation process. At the same time, social workers can learn from local leadership and FHCWs about how to render culturally appropriate interventions. Social work training programs should recognize the importance of this understanding, while being equally aware of the accompanying complexities. Finally, other therapeutic disciplines, such as psychology, nursing, and gerontology, may also benefit from the findings of this study, both in practice and training.