Older people and homecare in Ireland: How much do we care?
Mullins, Lhara
Mullins, Lhara
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Publication Date
2023-02-23
Type
Thesis
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Abstract
Homecare is instrumental in enabling older people to remain living at home and avoid long-term stay settings, particularly for those without family members or friends to provide care informally. Homecare was initially provided by religious and voluntary orders in Ireland, prior to the establishment of the home-help department by the health board (now the HSE) in the 1970s. At its inception, homecare addressed the needs of the older person based on personal care tasks, domestic duties and companionship. However, as this service evolved, it became much more succinct and currently addresses very specific tasks such as washing, dressing and getting in and out of bed. Homecare in Ireland is now delivered via a quasi-market system consisting of both the HSE and private homecare providers. However little research to date has been undertaken in Ireland pertaining to homecare and both older people and homecare workers are considered a hard to reach groups, and consequently are underrepresented within research. The aim of this study is to examine the experiences and perspectives of both older people and homecare workers, in order to establish the key factors they identify as significant in impacting homecare. The methodology employed was qualitative and consisted of both focus groups and interviews with older people, and interviews with homecare workers. Findings suggest that the homecare worker role is unique and often involves the development of a caring relationship between older people and homecare workers. Results suggest that older people want and need continuity of care in terms of their homecare provision and this is a factor they deem to be significant in impacting their experiences of homecare. The issue of isolation as experienced by older people is a notable factor within the findings which effects homecare workers in their provision of homecare. Results suggest that homecare workers often provide additional care in an unpaid capacity, in an effort to meet their social and companionship needs of older people. The results of this study are significant as they highlight the distinct role of the homecare worker in the lives of older people, and further the impact of isolation on homecare provision. The issue of continuity of care is notable within the broader legislative context of homecare in Ireland, which to date remains unregulated. The findings of this study demonstrate the longevity of factors such as the need for continuity of care and the isolation experienced by older people, as identified within previous literature. Such findings reiterate the urgency of enacting the Homecare Bill (2020) which will include the companionship needs of older people, within the remit of the homecare worker and will be underpinned as a stipulation within the legislation. The Homecare Bill (2020) will further place homecare provision on a statutory footing and consequently present consistency and clarity, to both older people and homecare workers in terms of continuity of care.
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Publisher
NUI Galway