Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Informal Carer Experiences of Older Adult Care Transitions From Hospital to Home: A Scoping Review

Aim To review the evidence on the experiences and perceptions of culturally and linguistically diverse informal carers supporting older adults during transitions from hospital to home, including their interactions with transitional care interventions. Design Scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Data Sources We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, AMED, PsycINFO, Global Health, Social Work Abstracts, JBI EBP, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ProQuest and Informit for studies published between January 2010 and November 2024. Methods Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Analysis followed the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for Practice and Research recommendations framework. Results Seventeen studies involving 1275 carers were included. Carer experiences were summarised into four themes: (1) cultural and communication barriers; (2) role ambiguity and practical challenges; (3) limited involvement in discharge planning and (4) barriers to accessing support and services. Perceptions of transitional care interventions were mixed. While some interventions improved carer preparedness and reduced stress, most lacked cultural tailoring and did not address carers' psychosocial and communication needs. Conclusion Culturally and linguistically diverse informal carers face challenges navigating transitional care. While involving them in care planning improves outcomes, implementation remains inconsistent. Emotional support and culturally tailored services are insufficient. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care There is a need for culturally and linguistically tailored transitional care programmes that prioritise carer education and communication support. Key areas for improvement include: (1) health literacy and system navigation; (2) involvement in care planning; (3) communication with providers; (4) psychosocial and emotional support and (5) culturally appropriate services. Future research should explore the unique emotional and psychosocial needs of these carers to inform targeted support strategies. Reporting Method This review follows the PRISMA guideline for reporting. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution.