Care workers’ views on social support for older people in Sweden

Sammanfattning: This study seeks the views of care workers working with older people about what impact social support resources has on the living conditions of older people. Social support was conceptualised in the study as support received from family members or close friends of the older people. Care workers were asked to share their views about social support for older people receiving care support in institutional setting or receiving home-based support services. This qualitative investigation involved eight care workers working with older people in Sweden. It has been argued in the study that care workers proving support for older people could have useful information about the social support of older people because they would have witnessed interactions between older people and their immediate network members. Qualitative interviews were conducted with eight care workers providing care support in institutions and home-based to explore their perspectives on the impact of social support on older people. Data from the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. It was revealed from the views of care workers that both family and friends were engaged in different ways to provide support for older people, although not at all times. Managing loneliness, satisfaction with life and feeling better about themselves emerged as the ways social support impacted on the living conditions of older people. The care workers highlighted certain activities or areas that could ensure continuity of social support for older people. These included family members having regular contact with older people, older people acknowledging the need for support. Implications of the study for the practice of care for older people were highlighted.