The Informal Carer in Old Age Care: Observations in Hong Kong Through the Lens of Critical Discourse Analysis

Carer strain and burden arising out of informal care provision, alongside the ensuing adverse effects on the quality of care delivered and the quality of life of both the carers and the cared-for, is a key policy concern in ageing societies. Drawing upon the insights of political economy and culturalist approaches in critical gerontology, this paper considers the potential of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in illuminating assumptions and limitations of old age care policy. Following (Fairclough 2010), we demonstrate how meanings underlying relevant policy and advocacy discourses in Hong Kong can be interpreted within the neoliberal policy context. Observations presented suggest that both discourses recognize and focus on the more ‘immediate’ issues and problems arising out of informal caregiving, namely the intensity and complexity of care tasks, carer stress, and the need for intervention. Family-based care is constructed as culturally fitting, and informal carers as requiring support through training. The paper illustrates how CDA sensitizes us to the way discursive practice obscures political and economic interests underlying the transfer of responsibility for old age care from the public sector to individual families under Ageing in Place, and how this could constrain the formulation of viable policy options. Implications are drawn.