Valuing the health of the support worker in the aged care sector

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11200539
AutoresESTHER GEORGE, Esther Princess George (University of Otago), Leigh Anne Hale (0000-0003-2730-5843, University of Otago, autor correspondente), LEIGH HALE, JENNIFER ANGELO (Concordia University Wisconsin)
Ano2017
Volume37
Fascículo5
Páginas1006-1024
Data de publicação2017-05-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x16000131
OpenAlexW2289233504
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas26

This study explored aged care support workers’ perceptions of how their health was influenced by their job, highlighting similarities and differences of those working in community-based and institution-based care. Support workers working in two institution-based and three community-based aged care organisations were invited to participate. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with ten participants. Open-ended questions probed participants’ perceptions of their health as it related to their work. Data were analysed with the General Inductive Approach. Four central themes were identified, many of which related to mental, as opposed to physical health. ‘Love of the job’ described various sources of satisfaction for participants. These factors commonly overrode the negative aspects. ‘Stress’ encompassed the negative influences on all aspects of health. ‘Support’ described the positive influences on health, which supported participants in their job. ‘Physicality’ described the physical nature of the job and the positive and negative impact this had on participants’ health. Support workers perform numerous tasks, which often impact upon their health. Aspects of the job that may impact the health of the worker are improved communication and support from management, as well as recognition for support workers’ contribution to society. These could be targeted to enhance support worker health. Additional training and reduced time pressure may also represent aspects for improvement, to optimise support workers’ physical health

Health care · Institution · Job satisfaction · Mental health · Perception · Political science · Psychiatry · Social support · Employment and Welfare Studies · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Workplace Health and Well-being