Assistive personnel are the primary caregivers in long-term residential care (LTRC) in industrialised countries. The authors' goal is to describe and compare the work-related characteristics of assistive personnel in LTRC in five countries (Canada, Germany, Norway, U.K., and U.S), which may reflect how various societies view their responsibility to ageing populations and the workers who care for them. OECD and national statistical databases are used to assess and compare the work context for assistive personnel. Analysis of the statistical data is informed by on-site observations in nursing homes with reputations for high quality, close readings of these organisations’ documents and records, and interviews with LTRC staff. Pay is generally low and the work required of assistive personnel is often demanding in all countries studied. While most assistive personnel have completed high school, formal certification requirements vary considerably. Professionalisation is increasing in Norway with its high school major in eldercare, and in Germany, which has a 2-year certificate programme. Financial compensation for assistive personnel in Norway and Canada is greater than in the other countries. Union membership for assistive personnel ranges from very high in Canada to negligible in the U.S. Some countries studied have training programs of only a few months duration to prepare assistive personnel for highly demanding jobs. However, in Germany and Norway, training aims to professionalise the work of assistive personnel for the benefit of workers, employers, and residents. There are high rates of part-time and/or casual work among assistive personnel, associated with reduced employment-related benefits, except in Germany and Norway, where these benefits are statutory for all. Data suggest that unionisation is protective for assistive personnel, however union coverage data were not available for all countries. The need to improve the qualifications and training of assistive personnel was observed to be a national priority everywhere except in the U.S. Compensation is relatively low in the U.K., the U.S. and Germany, despite the important jobs performed by assistive personnel. Finally, to improve future research, statistical mapping of this critical component of the labour force in LTRC should be a greater priority across high-income countries.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Assistive personnel are the primary caregivers in long-term residential care (LTRC) in industrialised countries. The authors' goal is to describe and compare the work-related characteristics of assistive personnel in LTRC in five countries (Canada, Germany, Norway, U.K., and U.S), which may reflect how various societies view their responsibility to ageing populations and the workers who care for them. OECD and national statistical databases are used to assess and compare the work context for assistive personnel. Analysis of the statistical data is informed by on-site observations in nursing homes with reputations for high quality, close readings of these organisations’ documents and records, and interviews with LTRC staff. Pay is generally low and the work required of assistive personnel is often demanding in all countries studied. While most assistive personnel have completed high school, formal certification requirements vary considerably. Professionalisation is increasing in Norway with its high school major in eldercare, and in Germany, which has a 2-year certificate programme. Financial compensation for assistive personnel in Norway and Canada is greater than in the other countries. Union membership for assistive personnel ranges from very high in Canada to negligible in the U.S. Some countries studied have training programs of only a few months duration to prepare assistive personnel for highly demanding jobs. However, in Germany and Norway, training aims to professionalise the work of assistive personnel for the benefit of workers, employers, and residents. There are high rates of part-time and/or casual work among assistive personnel, associated with reduced employment-related benefits, except in Germany and Norway, where these benefits are statutory for all. Data suggest that unionisation is protective for assistive personnel, however union coverage data were not available for all countries. The need to improve the qualifications and training of assistive personnel was observed to be a national priority everywhere except in the U.S. Compensation is relatively low in the U.K., the U.S. and Germany, despite the important jobs performed by assistive personnel. Finally, to improve future research, statistical mapping of this critical component of the labour force in LTRC should be a greater priority across high-income countries.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
long term care, older people, nursing homes, staff, skills, education, training;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Canada, Norway, Germany, United States, United Kingdom
Care and Health Magazine, 39, 2.7.03, 2003, pp.34-35.
Publisher:
Care and Health
Looks at a new study from the Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender (CRAG) at the University of Surrey which is comparing the organisation and delivery of the residential care system for older people in England and Germany. The study focuses particularly on staff training and qualifications.
Looks at a new study from the Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender (CRAG) at the University of Surrey which is comparing the organisation and delivery of the residential care system for older people in England and Germany. The study focuses particularly on staff training and qualifications.
Subject terms:
financing, staff, care homes, comparative studies, insurance, long term care, older people, qualifications, training;
Quality in Ageing, 1(1), September 2000, pp.15-26.
Publisher:
Pier Professional
Place of publication:
Brighton
Within the context of residential care settings in England and Germany little consideration is given to the role of care assistants. Policies that determine the staffing levels in both countries have resulted in care assistants making a considerable contribution towards the 'hands-on' care of dependent, older people. However, the policies overlook the need to encourage and support care assistants in developing the skills required to provide effective, efficient care to dependent, older people. This paper presents the findings of a small-scale qualitative study conducted in residential care settings situated in the south east of England and north Germany. The study establishes the connection between the nature of 'emotional labour' and the need to provide suitable training to care assistants, thus influencing the quality of care provided to dependent, older people. At present training in both countries is focused on qualified staff. Overlooking care assistants and their contribution towards care could be detrimental to the quality of care provided to older people in both England and Germany.
Within the context of residential care settings in England and Germany little consideration is given to the role of care assistants. Policies that determine the staffing levels in both countries have resulted in care assistants making a considerable contribution towards the 'hands-on' care of dependent, older people. However, the policies overlook the need to encourage and support care assistants in developing the skills required to provide effective, efficient care to dependent, older people. This paper presents the findings of a small-scale qualitative study conducted in residential care settings situated in the south east of England and north Germany. The study establishes the connection between the nature of 'emotional labour' and the need to provide suitable training to care assistants, thus influencing the quality of care provided to dependent, older people. At present training in both countries is focused on qualified staff. Overlooking care assistants and their contribution towards care could be detrimental to the quality of care provided to older people in both England and Germany.
Subject terms:
older people, policy, quality of life, residential care, social care provision, staff, standards, care homes, comparative studies, emotions;
Journal of Integrated Care, 13(2), April 2005, pp.13-21.
Publisher:
Emerald
Presents a comparison of the views of staff working in 18 integrated care settings, undertaken as part of the PROCARE study of integrated health and social care. The data reveals commonalities across the nine European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, UK, Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands). Increased job satisfaction was an advantage of integrated working, but respondents also reported difficulties in working with hospitals or medical professionals, and continued barriers to integrated working generally. Single standalone organisations such as home care teams reported the clearest benefits from integrated working, while cross-agency models continued to encounter significant barriers to health and social care integration.
Presents a comparison of the views of staff working in 18 integrated care settings, undertaken as part of the PROCARE study of integrated health and social care. The data reveals commonalities across the nine European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, UK, Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands). Increased job satisfaction was an advantage of integrated working, but respondents also reported difficulties in working with hospitals or medical professionals, and continued barriers to integrated working generally. Single standalone organisations such as home care teams reported the clearest benefits from integrated working, while cross-agency models continued to encounter significant barriers to health and social care integration.
Subject terms:
home care, integrated services, interagency cooperation, interprofessional relations, job satisfaction, older people, social care, social care provision, staff, attitudes, health;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Austria, Denmark, Greece, Europe, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 13(1), 2001, pp.1-26.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
A questionnaire survey on elder abuse and neglect in residential settings was conducted among a convenience sample of people working in German nursing homes. Data on nursing staff's experiences of stress and conflict at their workplaces, self-reported incidents of abuse and neglect of nursing home residents, incidents observed as witnesses and subjective theories about causes and motives underlying violence in nursing homes are reported. Different types of neglect and verbal/psychological abuse are most common. Subtypes of elder abuse and neglect show differential correlation patterns with measures of work stress. Subjects attribute abuse and neglect not only to staff shortage and work overload but also to a number of factors in the offender's personality on the one hand and at the political and social level on the other. From a motivational point of view, abuse and neglect are regarded as instrumental acts to reduce workload and as effects of pent-up aggression and inner tensions.
A questionnaire survey on elder abuse and neglect in residential settings was conducted among a convenience sample of people working in German nursing homes. Data on nursing staff's experiences of stress and conflict at their workplaces, self-reported incidents of abuse and neglect of nursing home residents, incidents observed as witnesses and subjective theories about causes and motives underlying violence in nursing homes are reported. Different types of neglect and verbal/psychological abuse are most common. Subtypes of elder abuse and neglect show differential correlation patterns with measures of work stress. Subjects attribute abuse and neglect not only to staff shortage and work overload but also to a number of factors in the offender's personality on the one hand and at the political and social level on the other. From a motivational point of view, abuse and neglect are regarded as instrumental acts to reduce workload and as effects of pent-up aggression and inner tensions.
Subject terms:
nursing homes, older people, residential care, residents, stress, staff, surveys, aggression, carers, care homes, elder abuse;
Contains examples of successful service provision for older people from 40 countries. The case studies are organised into the following sections: care at home; community support; empowerment; participation; fitness and well-being; income generation; environment; integrated services; mental health; training for elder care; organisation of services; and older women.
Contains examples of successful service provision for older people from 40 countries. The case studies are organised into the following sections: care at home; community support; empowerment; participation; fitness and well-being; income generation; environment; integrated services; mental health; training for elder care; organisation of services; and older women.
Subject terms:
integrated services, management, multidisciplinary services, older people, social work education, staff, staff management, training, user participation, women, community care, dementia, empowerment, environmental factors, health;
Location(s):
Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ghana, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Germany, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, Mali, Malta, Norway, Pakistan, Mexico, Sweden, Thailand, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe