Perceptions of Professional Responsibility When Caring for Older People in Home Care in Sweden

Abstract

Older people in Sweden are increasingly being cared for in the own home, where professional caregivers play an important role. This study aimed to describe perceptions of caring responsibility in the context of older people’s homes from the perspective of professional caregivers from caring professions. Fourteen interviews were conducted with professional caregivers from different professions. The result show how professional caregivers perceive responsibility as limitless, constrained by time, moral, overseeing, meaningful and lonesome. Responsibility seems to affect caregivers to a large extent when the burden is high. Professional caregivers’ perceptions of responsibility, and the potential consequences of a perceived strained work situation therefore need to be addressed. The findings also indicate a need for professional support and guidance when it is difficult to distinguish between professional and personal responsibility.