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Becoming an inadvertent home care user: The transition for cohabitating partners

Harnett, Tove LU orcid and Jönson, Håkan LU orcid (2025) In International Journal of Social Welfare 34(2).
Abstract (Swedish)
The aim of the study is to gain knowledge about the transition to living with formal home care for cohabiting partners. Data consist of 14 interviews with partners aged 64–85, most with extensive experience of home care. Grounded in a life course perspective, the study identified the key factors in the process of becoming an ‘inadvertent care user’, and two modes for that transition: (1) adaptions and negotiations that involve adjustments shaped by institutional regulations; (2) new roles and positions, where partners acted as guardians or mediators, but also developed new friendships. The introduction of home care often brought partners a sense of relief. While many adjustments were seen as necessary compromises, the unpredictable nature... (More)
The aim of the study is to gain knowledge about the transition to living with formal home care for cohabiting partners. Data consist of 14 interviews with partners aged 64–85, most with extensive experience of home care. Grounded in a life course perspective, the study identified the key factors in the process of becoming an ‘inadvertent care user’, and two modes for that transition: (1) adaptions and negotiations that involve adjustments shaped by institutional regulations; (2) new roles and positions, where partners acted as guardians or mediators, but also developed new friendships. The introduction of home care often brought partners a sense of relief. While many adjustments were seen as necessary compromises, the unpredictable nature of staff visits necessitated unwelcome adaptations. The study provides new knowledge about how cohabitating partners' lives are affected by home care and the strategies they employ in the presence of care workers. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Journal of Social Welfare
volume
34
issue
2
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85205322980
ISSN
1369-6866
DOI
10.1111/ijsw.12703
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
7df26635-3e0e-450a-be78-a7c4227012d2
date added to LUP
2024-10-11 10:15:16
date last changed
2025-04-28 12:50:28
@article{7df26635-3e0e-450a-be78-a7c4227012d2,
  abstract     = {{The aim of the study is to gain knowledge about the transition to living with formal home care for cohabiting partners. Data consist of 14 interviews with partners aged 64–85, most with extensive experience of home care. Grounded in a life course perspective, the study identified the key factors in the process of becoming an ‘inadvertent care user’, and two modes for that transition: (1) adaptions and negotiations that involve adjustments shaped by institutional regulations; (2) new roles and positions, where partners acted as guardians or mediators, but also developed new friendships. The introduction of home care often brought partners a sense of relief. While many adjustments were seen as necessary compromises, the unpredictable nature of staff visits necessitated unwelcome adaptations. The study provides new knowledge about how cohabitating partners' lives are affected by home care and the strategies they employ in the presence of care workers.}},
  author       = {{Harnett, Tove and Jönson, Håkan}},
  issn         = {{1369-6866}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  number       = {{2}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Social Welfare}},
  title        = {{Becoming an inadvertent home care user: The transition for cohabitating partners}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12703}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/ijsw.12703}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}