Improving the Experience of Care Home Admission for Family Carers: The Value and Impact of Care-Embedded Social Work

Abstract

Summary

This article draws on a qualitative study in Wales. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with family carers (carers) of older people with dementia (n = 10), social workers (n = 8), team managers (n = 2) and care home managers (n = 5), to examine the impacts of care embedded social work upon carers, during the care home admission process for their relative. Thematic analysis of the data was informed by ethics of care theory and drew upon a grounded theory approach.

Findings

Care home admission constitutes a significant multidimensional transition in the lives of older people and their carers. It often has a profoundly negative impact on carers. This study identified that care-embedded social work: improves carers’ emotional well-being, reduces stress and anxiety, and resolves a range of practical and process-related issues. It is informed by the ethic of care approach and extends the capacity of social workers to offer a skilled, relational and rights-oriented service. Barriers to care-embedded social work include: shortness of time, work-related demands and managerialist conceptualizations of the social work role as short-term and task-focused.

Applications

This article makes the case for care embedded social work with carers during the process of care home admission. It not only identifies the benefits for carers but also for practitioners who regard it as positive and reflective of social work values. The findings promote the therapeutic and psychosocial potential of social workers and challenge the current narrow transactional model of social work involvement in admission.