When Roles Are Reversed: Experiences of Granddaughters from Immigrant Families who Accompanied a Grandparent at the End-of-Life in Montreal
This article focuses on the lived experience of granddaughters from immigrant families who closely took care of a grandparent at the end-of-life. Through the experiences of eleven of them, we look at the motivations for their engagement, the scope of their role and responsibilities, the family tensions and dilemmas that resulted from their participation in care as well as the effects of this experience on their personal and professional trajectories. These experiences show that even though these women assume their responsibilities with affection and dedication, contextual and structural factors have contributed to their acceptance of this role. A recent immigration, a precarious migratory or socio-economic status, older members of the family having limited French proficiency as well as studying or working in the healthcare sector, are all factors that prompted these granddaughters to support their grandparent at the end-of-life.