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Caregivers' use of spirituality in ethical decision-making
- Author:
- KOEING Terry L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 45(1/2), 2005, pp.155-172.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This qualitative study examined ethical dilemmas faced by female caregivers of frail elders as well as the dominant role of caregivers' spirituality in addressing these dilemmas. Dilemmas are difficult decisions that involve conflicting values, e.g., freedom versus safety. In-depth interviews were conducted with thirteen ethnically diverse caregivers recruited from a home health agency and its parent hospital. Purposive sampling was used to obtain variation among research participants. Focus group interviews of home health staff, key informant caregivers, and interviewees provided guidance for the research design, reflection on findings and development of implications. In order to deal with ethical dilemmas, all caregivers used spirituality as (1) a philosophy of life, e.g., “This is what you do when you're family,” (2) an aid to decision-making, e.g., through the use of prayer; and/or, (3) a way to transcend dilemmas, e.g., “no choice is hard.” Implications include the importance of caregiverdriven assessment, professional self-reflection, and sustained formal services for caregivers. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
‘This is still all about love’: practitioners’ perspectives of working with family carers affected by the harmful behaviour of the older person for whom they care
- Authors:
- ISHAM Louise, BRADBURY-JONES Caroline, HEWISON Alistair
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, early cite October 2020, p.bcaa129.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article explores a hidden and under-acknowledged dimension of caring in family life: when older people with care needs act in a harmful, abusive or violent way towards the family member(s) who cares for them. Thirty-eight health and social care professionals, working in the UK, took part in five focus groups to explore their experience of working with families in this situation. The group discussions were stimulated by vignettes developed from interviews with carers affected by harmful behaviour, and the data generated using this method were analysed using a thematic approach. There were two principal findings: (i) ‘carer harm’ is a serious and under-acknowledged problem, which practitioners have extensive experiential knowledge of and (ii) practitioners face considerable practical and ethical challenges working with affected families. Drawing on Miranda Fricker’s concept of epistemic injustice, we discuss how contemporary social, legal and policy systems can make it difficult for practitioners to identify and meet the needs of affected families. Finally, we explore the role of social workers - and the support they need as a professional group - to work alongside a ‘hidden’ group of families seeking to manage the intersection of care, harm and intimacy in later life. (Edited publisher abstract)
An ethic of care and sibling care in older age
- Author:
- BARNES Marian
- Journal article citation:
- Families, Relationships and Societies, 1(1), 2012, pp.7-23.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Current feminist care ethics emphasises the relational nature of care which suggests the importance of understanding the different dynamics of care in different relational contexts. This article applies such a perspective to a small number of interviews with carers looking after siblings in older age. While some attention has been given to sibling care following the death of parents of people with learning difficulties and, to a lesser extent, those with enduring mental health problems, older sibling care can take place when siblings become ill, or when they have had close contact over a lifetime. Personal descriptions suggested that motivations to care are strongly embedded in family responsibility, but the precise meaning and consequences of this vary. Such relationships may not be more egalitarian than other familial caring relationships, although it was noted that caregiving brought older siblings closer together.
Dignity and older Europeans: final report of focus groups of Irish professionals
- Author:
- WEBSTER Robin
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 55p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
The right to, and the need for dignity is frequently cited in policy documents relating to the health and social care of older people. It is also expressed as an important value in professional codes and declarations of human rights. Yet concerns about the standards of care for a growing number of older people abound despite global ageing being a well-recognised phenomenon. Dignity is a complex concept that is difficult to define. If today’s, as well as tomorrow’s older people are to experience dignity in health and social care, as well as in other aspects of their lives, then these complexities need to be clarified.
Dignity and older Europeans: final report of focus groups of Slovakian professionals
- Author:
- KRAJCIK Stefan
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 36p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity and Older Europeans is an international research project which brings together a range of academics, clinicians, and user groups to explore the concept of dignity in the lives of Older Europeans.
Dignity and older Europeans: comparative analysis of focus groups with young and middle-aged adults
- Author:
- TADD Win
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 29p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
The right to, and the need for dignity is frequently cited in policy documents relating to the health and social care of older people. It is also expressed as an important value in professional codes and declarations of human rights. Yet concerns about the standards of care for a growing number of older people abound despite global ageing being a well-recognised Dignity and Older Europeans is an international research project which brings together a range of academics, clinicians, and user groups to explore the concept of dignity in the lives of Older Europeans.
Dignity and older Europeans: final report of focus groups of French professionals
- Author:
- AMYOT Jean-Jacques
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 62p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity and Older Europeans is an international research project which brings together a range of academics, clinicians, and user groups to explore the concept of dignity in the lives of Older Europeans. The project spanned 3 years until December 2004 and involved 8 partners from 6 European countries including France.
Dignity and older Europeans: report of focus groups of young and middle-aged adults: partner 5: Age Action Ireland
- Author:
- STRATTON David
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 34p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity is a complex concept that is difficult to define. If today’s, as well as tomorrow’s older people are to experience dignity in health and social care, as well as in other aspects of their lives, then these complexities need to be clarified.
Dignity and older Europeans: focus groups with young and middle-aged adults in France: partner 7: OAREIL
- Author:
- AMYOT Jean-Jacques
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 44p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity and Older Europeans is an international research project which brings together a range of academics, clinicians, and user groups to explore the concept of dignity in the lives of Older Europeans. The project spanned 3 years until December 2004 and involved 8 partners from 6 European countries including France.
Dignity and older Europeans: report of focus groups of young and middle-aged adults: partner 3: Fundacio Hospital Asil de Granollers
- Author:
- BLASCO Sergio Arino
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 45p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity is often cited in policies and papers relating to older people, yet there is little evidence regarding what dignity means in practice or how it may be best promoted in health and social care. The Dignity and Older Europeans Project explored these issues with older people and care professionals in a cross-national study. Dignity was seen as a highly relevant and important concept, enhancing self-esteem, self-worth and wellbeing. In general the participants found it easier to identify situations when dignity was lacking than to identify times when it was present or what it meant. For the dignity of older people to be enhanced, person-centred care must address communication issues, privacy, personal identity and feelings of vulnerability. In particular, there is a need for education of all health and social professionals to better appreciate what dignity means and for policies that promote greater dignity for all older people in society.