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Promoting empathy in social care for older people
- Authors:
- STRANDBERG Thomas, EKLUND Jakob, MANTHORPE Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 16(3), 2012, pp.101-110.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The purpose of this paper is to identify connections between empathy and social care, considering the way in which services are underpinned by empathy between the older person receiving such support and the paid home-care worker. Five doctoral theses, published from 1996-2007, which discussed empathy among care workers of older people in Sweden were analysed. Methodologically, the examination underpinned an interpretive content analysis. The main themes which emerged during the analysis were: time, power, older adults, needs, caring-relationships, organisation, and personal ability. The meta-analysis revealed conflicting feelings among care workers. Most experienced frustration when they were not able to express empathy in their working practices. Empathy was typically hindered by lack of time, care workers' own needs, and inflexible home care systems. However, a key element of the job-satisfaction reported by care workers appeared to be its empathic nature. Most care workers perceive encounters with older people as opportunities to respond empathically rather than indifferently. The implications of these findings are discussed.