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Living with dementia: the felt worth of support workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2019

Leigh Anne Hale Open the ORCID record for Leigh Anne Hale [Opens in a new window] ,
Matthew Lee Jenkins ,
Beth Mayland ,
Yvette Buttery ,
Pauline Norris ,
Mary Butler ,
Michelle Holland ,
Esther Ngocha-Chaderopa ,
Barbara McKenzie-Green  and
Karol Czuba
...Show all authors
Leigh Anne Hale*
Affiliation:
School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Matthew Lee Jenkins
Affiliation:
School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Beth Mayland
Affiliation:
School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Yvette Buttery
Affiliation:
School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Pauline Norris
Affiliation:
School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Mary Butler
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand
Michelle Holland
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand
Esther Ngocha-Chaderopa
Affiliation:
International College of Management Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Barbara McKenzie-Green
Affiliation:
Person Centred Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
Karol Czuba
Affiliation:
Person Centred Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
Ann Sezier
Affiliation:
Person Centred Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
Nicola Kayes
Affiliation:
Person Centred Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author. Email: leigh.hale@otago.ac.nz
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Abstract

Considering the important role that paid support workers play in care of older people with dementia, it is vital that researchers and relevant organisations understand the factors that lead to them feeling valued for the work that they do, and the consequences of such valuing (or lack thereof). The current study employed semi-structured interviews to understand the individual experiences of 15 support workers based both in residential care homes and private homes. The General Inductive Approach was used to analyse the interview transcriptions and to develop a conceptual model that describes the conditions that lead to support workers feeling valued for the work that they do. This model consists of organisational or individual strategies, the context in which support work takes place, and various interactions, actions and intervening conditions that facilitate or prevent support workers feeling valued. A significant finding in this research was the role of interpersonal relationships and interactions which underlie all other aspects of the conceptual model developed here. By understanding the importance of how employers, families of older adults with dementia and peers interact with support workers, we may promote not only the quality of work that support workers deliver, but also the wellbeing of the support workers themselves.

Keywords

support workercare-givingdementiaolder adults
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 41 , Issue 7 , July 2021 , pp. 1453 - 1473
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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