Attuning to the needs of structural socially isolated older adults with complex problems: the experiences of social workers with personal guidance trajectories for a less-researched group.
interventions
loneliness
older people
professional empathy
social isolation
social work
Journal
Health & social care in the community
ISSN: 1365-2524
Titre abrégé: Health Soc Care Community
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9306359
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
05 2021
05 2021
Historique:
revised:
29
12
2020
received:
05
07
2020
accepted:
11
01
2021
pubmed:
27
2
2021
medline:
3
11
2021
entrez:
26
2
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Many interventions to combat the social isolation of older adults are hardly effective because they ignore both the heterogeneity of the target group and the uniqueness of the individual experiences of social isolation. In order to be effective, interventions must meet the individual needs of specific clients. In this study, we aim to gain insight into the process in which professionals seek to understand how clients assess their situation, and what this means for the help they provide. We investigated how social workers in one-to-one guidance trajectories try to attune to the needs of the clients they accompany and what considerations they make in doing so. The study was conducted between 2014 and 2017 in the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Participants were 20 social workers of 8 social work agencies who provided guidance to community-dwelling older adults who have been isolated for a long time and have problems in multiple life domains. We analysed 36 research-driven logbooks, written by the social workers, which contain case study descriptions with information about specific clients who belong to the target group of this study. We also interviewed the individual social workers and organised six focus groups with 8-12 of the participating social workers. Our findings make clear how social workers try to identify the needs of their clients and provide help that is tailored to their possibilities and ambitions. By giving recognition to the emotions and situations of their clients, and by practical problem-solving, they build a relationship with the older adults in which adequate help is accepted. The professionals set modest goals; their guidance helps stabilise the existing situation and may also contribute to the self-reliance of their clients. This knowledge will be highly valuable in the developing and implementation of programmes and interventions for this less-researched group.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33636025
doi: 10.1111/hsc.13319
pmc: PMC8248016
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
800-808Informations de copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Health and Social Care in the Community published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Références
Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2011 Aug;15(3):219-66
pubmed: 20716644
Soc Sci Med. 1992 Feb;34(4):405-14
pubmed: 1566121
BMJ. 2008 Sep 29;337:a1655
pubmed: 18824488
Nurs Ethics. 2012 Jan;19(1):68-79
pubmed: 22140188
J Aging Stud. 2019 Jun;49:74-84
pubmed: 31229221
J Prim Prev. 2012 Jun;33(2-3):137-52
pubmed: 22766606
J Patient Exp. 2017 Jun;4(2):78-83
pubmed: 28725866
J Health Soc Behav. 2009 Mar;50(1):31-48
pubmed: 19413133
J Gerontol Soc Work. 2015;58(4):338-56
pubmed: 25588026
J Adv Nurs. 2000 Jan;31(1):226-34
pubmed: 10632813
Br J Community Nurs. 2014 Mar;19(3):125-8
pubmed: 24897833
J Aging Stud. 2020 Jun;53:100852
pubmed: 32487343
Health Soc Care Community. 2018 Mar;26(2):147-157
pubmed: 27413007
BMC Public Health. 2011 Aug 15;11:647
pubmed: 21843337
Nurs Inq. 2010 Mar;17(1):65-74
pubmed: 20137032
Health Soc Care Community. 2021 May;29(3):800-808
pubmed: 33636025
Nurs Ethics. 2019 Aug;26(5):1282-1291
pubmed: 29544402
BMC Med Res Methodol. 2019 Aug 29;19(1):181
pubmed: 31464586
Soc Personal Psychol Compass. 2014 Feb 1;8(2):58-72
pubmed: 24839458
J R Soc Promot Health. 2006 May;126(3):134-42
pubmed: 16739619
BMC Public Health. 2020 Feb 14;20(1):129
pubmed: 32054474
Can J Aging. 2004 Summer;23(2):115-27
pubmed: 15334812
PLoS Med. 2010 Jul 27;7(7):e1000316
pubmed: 20668659
BMJ Open. 2017 May 17;7(5):e013778
pubmed: 28515187
Nurs Philos. 2020 Jul;21(3):e12297
pubmed: 32077225
Annu Rev Public Health. 2019 Apr 1;40:361-372
pubmed: 30633712