‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Societies
This study explores social dynamics of aging family members providing intimate physical care to relatives with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in ultra-Orthodox Jewish and Arab communities in Israel. In-depth interviews with 16 family caregivers revealed three key themes: (1) intim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Stockholm University Press
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research |
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| Online Access: | https://account.sjdr.se/index.php/su-j-sjdr/article/view/1193 |
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| author | Alon Zamir Rabab Awad |
| author_facet | Alon Zamir Rabab Awad |
| author_sort | Alon Zamir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores social dynamics of aging family members providing intimate physical care to relatives with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in ultra-Orthodox Jewish and Arab communities in Israel. In-depth interviews with 16 family caregivers revealed three key themes: (1) intimate care as an expression of family honor and collective responsibility, (2) caregiving as a socio-religious duty, and (3) care as a catalyst for social cohesion and spiritual growth. Despite broader societal tensions, the research uncovered striking similarities in caregiving experiences and community attitudes across both groups, particularly regarding intimate physical care. It illuminates how deeply embedded social and religious values shape caregiving narratives and practices. The findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive, community-based support services that align with local norms while fostering inter-community dialog. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of caregiving dynamics in diverse religious contexts, potentially informing the development of more inclusive care models. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfcb3e17dbfb4e96907682b2ec1de1fa |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1745-3011 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Stockholm University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfcb3e17dbfb4e96907682b2ec1de1fa2025-08-20T02:17:29ZengStockholm University PressScandinavian Journal of Disability Research1745-30112025-03-01271106–119106–11910.16993/sjdr.11931193‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish SocietiesAlon Zamir0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6862-3528Rabab Awad1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9122-3984The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA), University of Haifa, Department of Community Mental Health, University of HaifaThe Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA), University of Haifa, The School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan UniversityThis study explores social dynamics of aging family members providing intimate physical care to relatives with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in ultra-Orthodox Jewish and Arab communities in Israel. In-depth interviews with 16 family caregivers revealed three key themes: (1) intimate care as an expression of family honor and collective responsibility, (2) caregiving as a socio-religious duty, and (3) care as a catalyst for social cohesion and spiritual growth. Despite broader societal tensions, the research uncovered striking similarities in caregiving experiences and community attitudes across both groups, particularly regarding intimate physical care. It illuminates how deeply embedded social and religious values shape caregiving narratives and practices. The findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive, community-based support services that align with local norms while fostering inter-community dialog. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of caregiving dynamics in diverse religious contexts, potentially informing the development of more inclusive care models.https://account.sjdr.se/index.php/su-j-sjdr/article/view/1193intellectual and developmental disabilitiesreligious muslimsultra-orthodox jewsfamily caregivingfaith-based communities |
| spellingShingle | Alon Zamir Rabab Awad ‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Societies Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research intellectual and developmental disabilities religious muslims ultra-orthodox jews family caregiving faith-based communities |
| title | ‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Societies |
| title_full | ‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Societies |
| title_fullStr | ‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Societies |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Societies |
| title_short | ‘Caring for Him Makes Me More Sensitive, like a Kind of Prayer’: Intimate Physical Care for Aging Family Members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Religious Muslim and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Societies |
| title_sort | caring for him makes me more sensitive like a kind of prayer intimate physical care for aging family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities in religious muslim and ultra orthodox jewish societies |
| topic | intellectual and developmental disabilities religious muslims ultra-orthodox jews family caregiving faith-based communities |
| url | https://account.sjdr.se/index.php/su-j-sjdr/article/view/1193 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alonzamir caringforhimmakesmemoresensitivelikeakindofprayerintimatephysicalcareforagingfamilymemberswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesinreligiousmuslimandultraorthodoxjewishsocieties AT rababawad caringforhimmakesmemoresensitivelikeakindofprayerintimatephysicalcareforagingfamilymemberswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesinreligiousmuslimandultraorthodoxjewishsocieties |