Arieli Daniella, Halevi Hochwald Inbal
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Jezreel Valley, Israel.
School of Nursing, Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Jezreel Valley, Israel.
J Aging Soc Policy. 2024 Jul 3;36(4):639-657. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2023.2238535. Epub 2023 Aug 1.
As policymakers globally recognize aging in place as the preferred option for most adults, there is a growing need to supplement family or informal caregiving for frail older adults with formal homecare services, particularly for those who require 24/7 care due to significant physical and/or cognitive impairment. The core objective of this qualitative study was to explore family members' experiences in employing live-in care workers, particularly the nature of their engagement and the quality of their relationships with these care workers. Our analysis of semi-structured interviews with 35 family caregivers revealed four themes: 1) challenges in acquiring support and developing dependency; 2) negotiation of roles, responsibilities, and moral dilemmas; 3) shifting emotions between trust and suspicion; and 4) role confusion, expectations, and disappointments. The study suggests that families might benefit from formal guidance regarding fostering and maintaining positive relationships in the homecare environment. This paper provides nuanced knowledge that may inform the development of such interventions.
随着全球政策制定者将就地养老视为大多数成年人的首选方案，越来越需要通过正规的家庭护理服务来补充对体弱老年人的家庭或非正规照料，特别是对于那些因严重身体和/或认知障碍而需要全天候护理的老年人。这项定性研究的核心目标是探讨家庭成员雇佣住家护理人员的经历，尤其是他们的参与性质以及与这些护理人员的关系质量。我们对35名家庭照顾者进行的半结构化访谈分析揭示了四个主题：1）获得支持和产生依赖方面的挑战；2）角色、责任和道德困境的协商；3）信任与怀疑之间的情感转变；4）角色混乱、期望和失望。该研究表明，家庭可能会从关于在家庭护理环境中培养和维持积极关系的正式指导中受益。本文提供了细致入微的知识，可为这类干预措施的制定提供参考。
