Strategies to handle the challenges of intimacy in night-time home care services

Medication management in Swedish nursing homes: an ethnographic study of resistance, negotiation and control

“…Previous research highlights the ambivalent nature of institutional routine, both as a safeguard and a threat to integrity (Andersson & Kalman, 2017). Routines risk making nursing home residents into what Wiersma and Dupuis (2010) call 'institutional bodies'institutional property managed to conform to the structures and practices of the institution and its staff.…”

“…To understand gerontological social work and social care in Sweden, the context of elderly care must first be described. The provision of care to frail older peoplesome of society's most vulnerable citizensis a cornerstone of social welfare, and in Sweden, the care of older people is an integral part of the welfare state (Andersson & Kalman, 2017;Szebehely, 2005). Care for the older persons in Sweden is organised by the Social Service Act, which places the responsibility for the care on the municipalities (290 in all) to provide social care and meet the nursing and housing needs of older people, while the county councils or regions (21 in all) are responsible for the provision of health and medical care.…”

Swedish eldercare within home care services at night-time: perceptions and expressions of ‘good care’ from the perspective of care workers and care unit managers

“…A Swedish research study (Andersson and Kalman 2017) and our project's survey (Andersson and Sjölund Forthcoming) reveal that scheduled care services include intimate care such as help using the toilet, turning over in bed, and changing diapers. Other scheduled care services are of more practical character such as safety visits to see that the care recipients are alright, and/or webcam monitoring and help with medication and food.…”

“…Most municipalities organize nighttime care in mobile patrols of two care workers, usually trained auxiliary nurses. Some municipalities also have single working patrols at nights (Andersson and Kalman 2017;Authors). All in all, in comparison with daytime care work, the care work at night is characterized by many short visits, a lot of car driving, and unpredictability because there are many emergency alarms to handle at night-time.…”

“…There were several reported challenges connected with night-time care. In contrast to daytime care, the work is more unpredictable, and many short visits and many alarms can change the whole time schedule at night due to cases of falls or other accidents (Andersson and kalman 2017). Furthermore, even if many of the older people are asleep, not everyone is.…”