Numerous wellbeing services counties recently established in Finland are contemplating reductions in expenditures on eldercare services, particularly affecting continuous care and home care. Concurrently, the industry is grappling with a pronounced workforce deficit, resulting in an increasing number of elderly individuals, many of whom require extensive support, having to fend for themselves in their homes without sufficient assistance. A novel investigation conducted by the University of Eastern Finland reveals that challenges in home care have been a longstanding issue, significantly impacting the well-being of home care workers.
Postdoctoral Researcher Marjo Ring from the University of Eastern Finland highlighted the findings from their study on why home care workers are choosing to leave their positions. They pinpointed four primary factors: a discrepancy between the needs of elderly clients and the available resources; the excessive time required by performance-driven practices and various digital systems; the demands placed on employees alongside the rigidity of their roles; and the ethical challenges faced.
The research advocates for the recognition of home care workers as professionals who are keen to assume responsibility for their roles and contribute to the advancement of their sector. These workers seek more personalized management and more significant consideration for their needs and clients. The study calls for a dialogue on the values underpinning their work, necessitating the creation of metrics for home care that go beyond mere procedural focus to cater to the needs of elderly individuals truly. Moreover, it emphasizes fostering interactions and encounters between clients and home care workers.
This research delves into the reasons behind the attrition of home care workers, considering the influence of public service reforms and eldercare policies shaped by New Public Management (NPM) in Finland. Since its prominence in the 1990s, NPM has aimed to streamline eldercare services through enhanced management practices and market-driven approaches.
Ring noted that New Public Management principles significantly resonate with home care workers’ experiences and reasons for leaving the profession. Decisions regarding eldercare at the national level and organizational solutions profoundly affect home care workers’ daily tasks, prompting their departure.
The study forms part of the SOLDEX project, focusing on old-age social exclusion primarily from the viewpoint of older home care recipients.
Associate Professor Elisa Tiilikainen of the University of Eastern Finland remarked on the precarious situation of many home care recipients, who often live alone or with an ageing spouse and require considerable support due to physical or cognitive impairments. She pointed out the heightened risk of social exclusion among older home care clients if home-based services fail to meet their needs, underscoring the critical nature of this issue for those reliant on home care.
This investigation received support from the Finnish Work Environment Fund and the Research Council of Finland.
More information: Marjo Ring et al, From Restricted Resources to Ethical Burden—Former Home Care Workers’ Reasons for Leaving Their Jobs, Journal of Applied Gerontology. DOI: 10.1177/07334648241231404
Journal information: Journal of Applied Gerontology Provided by University of Eastern Finland
