REABLEMENT IN HOME CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE IN DENMARK AND IMPLICATIONS FOR WORK TASKS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Abstract

Reablement has been introduced locally in home care for older adults in Denmark since 2007, in order to change from a passive to an active approach of self-care. Reablement is based on close cross-disciplinary co-operation between home care workers and occupational- and physiotherapists, and on working towards achieving specific outcome goals for the intervention. This study looks into how the introduction of reablement affects the work tasks and working conditions for home care workers. It is based on survey data of 361 home care workers collected in 2005 and 2015, supplemented with qualitative interviews (n=25) among home care workers in two local settings, in order to exemplify findings. Our results show that the change in work tasks towards reablement create better working conditions. Amongst other findings, the home care workers working with reablement are less likely to want to quit their work and in general find their work more meaningful. The results are important since there is otherwise a high turnover in the home care workforce and it is difficult to recruit young people to the sector.