Researching the role of social work in providing autonomy and empowerment of residents in homes for older people in Slovenia

Institutional care for older people is the most developed and widespread form of care for older people in Slovenia. In 2008, Slovenia achieved the socio-political goal of ensuring institutional care for 5% of people over 65.... [ view full abstract ]

Institutional care for older people is the most developed and widespread form of care for older people in Slovenia. In 2008, Slovenia achieved the socio-political goal of ensuring institutional care for 5% of people over 65. Social work in homes for older people aims to prevent categorization and stigmatization of senior citizens. The conceptualisation of social work enables social worker to consider residents as equal partners and participants in institutional life, which is an approach that enables shifts in the operation of such an institution towards greater adjustment to residents’ individual needs. It modifies the institutional regime whose founding concept is such that it restricts and neglects older people and their interests. We researched the realisation of such practices in qualitative research with 58 residents and 24 social workers in 2013. We sought to establish how much control over their own lives residents had and whether they were able to exert influence to improve the quality of care, achieve greater autonomy and increase participation. We found that social workers played an important role in providing good quality of life, by developing personalized, integrated care with emphasis on providing autonomy and participation of residents. The foundations for changes are in place. Individualization of care could be achieved with the method of reminiscence – listening and writing down the residents past life. This approach enables us to research key events in lives of older people and the changes brought about by these events, the sources of power and ways of reorganizing the lives of the residents. The stories can become an important part in a working relationship. With their stories the residents get their chance to be heard and empowered in their institutional life. But for social workers the residents stories are the instruments for achieving individualised care.