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Older persons' experience of being assessed for and receiving public home help: do they have any influence over it?

Janlöv, Ann-Christin LU ; Rahm Hallberg, Ingalill LU and Petersson, Kerstin LU (2006) In Health & Social Care in the Community 14(1). p.26-36
Abstract
The aim of this qualitative study was to explore older persons' experience of participation in and influence on decisions about public home help/care when undergoing needs assessment and receiving public home help. A purposive sample of 28 home help recipients over the age of 75 were selected. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews. A content analysis revealed one overarching category: 'Having to be satisfied, adjust, and walk a fine line when balancing between needs and available help'; and three principal categories: Balancing the comfort and guilt – receiving help from the family at the limits of their capacity; 'A necessary evil'– balancing feelings and resources against having no choice but to accept; Incorporating the... (More)
The aim of this qualitative study was to explore older persons' experience of participation in and influence on decisions about public home help/care when undergoing needs assessment and receiving public home help. A purposive sample of 28 home help recipients over the age of 75 were selected. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews. A content analysis revealed one overarching category: 'Having to be satisfied, adjust, and walk a fine line when balancing between needs and available help'; and three principal categories: Balancing the comfort and guilt – receiving help from the family at the limits of their capacity; 'A necessary evil'– balancing feelings and resources against having no choice but to accept; Incorporating the home help into daily life to gain a sense of continuity. The findings indicate that older persons have difficulties coping and adapting to their new life situation and have no actual influence over the decisions about their home help. The officer told them what was available. This implies a need to pay attention to the frail persons' mental state in the needs assessment and to ensure adequate understanding of information. Further, it suggests that the needs assessment and the home help officer should to a larger extent focus on individual needs as a whole, involve and encourage the older person to strengthen his or her sense of being in control. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
age 75 and older, adjustment, influence, needs assessment, public home, help, social service/care
in
Health & Social Care in the Community
volume
14
issue
1
pages
26 - 36
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000233655900004
  • scopus:33644878302
ISSN
0966-0410
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00594.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Gerontology and Caring Sciences (Closed 2012) (013220200), Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000), Caring Sciences (Closed 2012) (016514020)
id
fa84ae47-43b1-46f9-820b-0ee1c7e3c68b (old id 148981)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:20:35
date last changed
2022-02-11 05:42:28
@article{fa84ae47-43b1-46f9-820b-0ee1c7e3c68b,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this qualitative study was to explore older persons' experience of participation in and influence on decisions about public home help/care when undergoing needs assessment and receiving public home help. A purposive sample of 28 home help recipients over the age of 75 were selected. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews. A content analysis revealed one overarching category: 'Having to be satisfied, adjust, and walk a fine line when balancing between needs and available help'; and three principal categories: Balancing the comfort and guilt – receiving help from the family at the limits of their capacity; 'A necessary evil'– balancing feelings and resources against having no choice but to accept; Incorporating the home help into daily life to gain a sense of continuity. The findings indicate that older persons have difficulties coping and adapting to their new life situation and have no actual influence over the decisions about their home help. The officer told them what was available. This implies a need to pay attention to the frail persons' mental state in the needs assessment and to ensure adequate understanding of information. Further, it suggests that the needs assessment and the home help officer should to a larger extent focus on individual needs as a whole, involve and encourage the older person to strengthen his or her sense of being in control.}},
  author       = {{Janlöv, Ann-Christin and Rahm Hallberg, Ingalill and Petersson, Kerstin}},
  issn         = {{0966-0410}},
  keywords     = {{age 75 and older; adjustment; influence; needs assessment; public home; help; social service/care}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{26--36}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Health & Social Care in the Community}},
  title        = {{Older persons' experience of being assessed for and receiving public home help: do they have any influence over it?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00594.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00594.x}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}