Professional caregivers' participation in the International Caregiver Development Programme: A qualitative study of psychosocial care in nursing homes

Abstract

Aim: This paper aims to explore professional caregivers' experiences of psychosocial care for older persons living in nursing homes following the professional caregivers' participation in the International Caregiver Development Programme (ICDP). Design: A qualitative study. Methods: About 15 focus group interviews and 25 participatory observations of five ICDP group courses were conducted with 31 employees in nursing homes, including registered nurses, enrolled nurses and nursing aids. The findings emerged through hermeneutic analysis. Results: Main findings: (i) Adjusting the communication to the residents' psychosocial needs, (ii) Seeing the residents as individuals and (iii) Adjusting to individual interaction with the residents. The professional caregivers experienced that the residents participated more in communication, interaction and activities, in addition to be more satisfied, calm, happy and thankful in interaction with the caregivers. Furthermore, they described that the environment in the units became calmer and that they were considering psychosocial care before medication. Work-related stress seems to impact ICDP participation and may be a barrier to implementation.