Professional carers' perspectives on participation for older adults living in place.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to provide knowledge about professional carers' subjective descriptions and understanding of older adults' participation in everyday life, when living in place and depending on home-based service delivery.


METHODS
Thirty professionals from different organisational levels were selected, allowing for differences in ages, gender, length of working experience, and profession or education. Six focus group discussions were held. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data.


RESULTS
The core category was identified as 'participation in one's own life'. Two categories included the care providers' descriptions and understanding of participation in the life of older adults; 'carrying out tasks in everyday-life' and 'interaction during service delivery'. Participation as carrying out tasks was related to the contexts inside and outside the house. The professional carers' understandings of older adults' participation in interaction during service delivery included three categories; 'Being included and taking part in decision-making', 'socialising during service delivery' and 'collaboration in keeping up or regaining functions'.


CONCLUSIONS
To promote participation for older adults living in place and in the context of service delivery, the findings suggest that the professional carers must extend their focus on participation as socialising and its significance for older adults. At a system level there is a need to focus on how the professional role in home-based service delivery can be adjusted and developed to promote collaboration about participation in older adults.
Witsø
Aud Elisabeth
AE
Department of Occupational Therapy, Sør-Trøndelag University College, Trondheim, N-7004 Norway. aud.e.witso@hist.no
Eide
Arne Henning
AH
Vik
Kjersti
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018576:Home Health Aides / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010358:Patient Participation; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012494:Sampling Studies