The Lived Experiences of Female Immigrant Carers in Madrid, Spain: A Phenomenological Study

The study addresses the increasing need for long-term care in ageing societies, with Spain experiencing a shortage of informal/family carers and a growing reliance on immigrant women, particularly from Latin America, to provide domestic and elder care. These women often face triple discrimination (gender, immigration status, and caregiving/domestic work), precarious labor conditions, and underrecognition of qualifications. The research aims to explore the lived experiences, needs, and contributions of female immigrant carers in Madrid, Spain, to better understand their circumstances and the implications for care of dependent persons.

Prior literature indicates that Latin American immigrant women are frequently employed as domestic and elder care workers in Spain due to linguistic and cultural proximity, lower wages, and perceived caregiving qualities. They often experience triple discrimination, irregular employment, and limited access to rights and benefits, despite having higher educational levels than native workers in similar roles. Migratory processes are associated with grief and psychosocial stress (e.g., Achotegui’s migration losses and Ulises syndrome), somatization, sleep disturbances, and depression. Studies describe burdens akin to family carers with added risks of fatigue and stress, as well as instances of overt and covert racism, including discriminatory practices around food and space within households. Policy analyses reveal gaps in long-term care systems and social services in Spain, with some recent legal steps (e.g., Royal Decree-Law 16/2022) to improve conditions for household workers.

Design: Qualitative interpretive phenomenological approach (Heideggerian) to capture lived experiences within cultural and historical contexts. Sampling and participants: Convenience sampling of migrant women providing non-professional care and living in the Community of Madrid. Forty potential participants were approached via an NGO and a religious order; inclusion criterion was being a migrant woman providing non-professional care. Data collection: One exploratory focus group (n=6), twenty in-depth semi-structured interviews, and two additional focus groups (n=6 and n=8) for triangulation. Interviews and focus groups were conducted at the NGO and religious order sites in Madrid. Data analysis: Constant comparison method (Glaser and Strauss) applied from the outset to identify commonalities and variations; transcripts coded and anonymized (codes and pseudonyms). Atlas.ti v6.2 used to support qualitative analysis. Ethics: Uncovered research approach with confidentiality safeguards; informed consent obtained; approved by the Ethical Committee of Camilo José Cela University (protocol 05_22_SCYFMEDD; 26 April 2022).

Sample characteristics: 38 participants from Latin America and 2 from Eastern Europe (Spanish speakers); mean age 41.27 ± 1.23 years. Education: 42.5% completed high school or higher. Marital status: 16 married; 60% arrived in Spain not depending on male counterparts (including single or divorced). Employment: 65% worked as live-in carers. Emergent themes: 1) Difficult lives: Participants described unmet expectations of migration, migratory mourning due to separation from family, administrative irregularity leading to vulnerability and exploitation, and pressure not to return home due to perceived failure and economic uncertainty. 2) Working in the home: Latin American women perceived as preferred hires due to lower wages and language/cultural proximity. Live-in arrangements provided safety and savings but blurred personal/work boundaries, limited privacy and mobility, and often lacked rest periods. Reports of employers monitoring food/space and unpredictable schedules were common. 3) The vision of the other: Relationships with care recipients often deepened into affection and reciprocity; however, carers also faced covert and sometimes overt racism and stereotypes, requiring them to prove competence to gain trust and recognition. Quotes illustrated experiences of grief, confinement, lack of rest, and discriminatory remarks.

Findings illuminate the complex interplay of structural (legal status, labor market, LTC policy) and interpersonal (household dynamics, discrimination, intimacy of care) factors shaping the lived experiences of immigrant female carers. Administrative irregularity and precarious work conditions heighten vulnerability and stress, reinforcing triple discrimination. Despite challenges, carers form meaningful bonds that can mitigate prejudice and enhance care quality. The burden of live-in care—long hours, lack of rest and privacy—contributes to risks of fatigue, insomnia, and depression, aligning with prior research on migrant grief and caregiver burden. Strengthening long-term care policies, recognizing and regulating domestic care work, and supporting training and accreditation could improve both carers’ wellbeing and quality of care, and promote preference for home-based care.

Immigrant female carers in Madrid play a vital but undervalued role in meeting long-term care needs that neither families nor the formal system fully cover. Their caregiving demands holistic skills and relational qualities; many request specialized training to enhance care quality. Policy and social reforms are needed to regularize employment conditions, extend labor and social protections, and improve access to training and accreditation. Enhancing recognition of this workforce can reduce their ‘double invisibility’ and improve care outcomes. Future research should evaluate the impact of recent legal changes on working conditions, examine training/accreditation pathways, and explore interventions that address mental health, rest, and privacy for live-in carers.

A formal limitations section was not provided. Based on the described methods, the qualitative phenomenological design, convenience sampling through an NGO and a religious order within a single region (Madrid), and the predominance of Spanish-speaking participants may limit generalizability. Findings rely on self-reported experiences and may be influenced by selection and context-specific factors.