"Undermedvetet kanske jag ändå speglas av manligt och kvinnligt" : En kvalitativ studie om hur biståndshandläggare inom äldreomsorgen påverkas av äldre personers könstillhörighet och anhörigsituation

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to understand, by means of Connell’s and Hirdman’s gender theories, whether the older persons’ gender as well as the family situation affect the assessments in elderly care. Previous studies show that social workers do not consciously take gender into consideration, while also showing that gender is important for the assessment and decision. Based on the purpose, we asked the questions how are the assessments of care managers affected by the gender of older persons and in what way are the assessments of care managers affected by older persons family situation? This study was based on eight interviews with care managers in eldery care. The result was divided into the following two main themes assistance management and the older person. Connell’s and Hirdman’s gender theories helped us answer our main questions and analyze our result. The result showed that the unaware subconscious ideas of male and female, older persons’ perceptions of male and female as well as the elderly’s division of different chores in the household are affecting the care managers’ needs assessments in such a way that men and women are granted and apply for different assistance. Depending on who needs help in a couple, if the older person lives alone or with someone as well as other families’ perceptions of what the husband and wife are capable of doing affects the needs assessments of care managers.