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Assessing trustworthiness of personal aides.
Denise Clark Lewis1, Won Jee Cho
1Department of Child and Family Development, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
|June 28, 2013
Summary
Family members prioritize trust and personal connection over technical skills when evaluating personal aides for home care. Establishing and maintaining trust is crucial for positive caregiving experiences and overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology of Health
- Family Studies
Background:
- Increasingly smaller family sizes necessitate greater reliance on personal aides for home-based care.
- Respite care from personal aides can alleviate depressive symptoms and enhance well-being for families and patients.
- Limited understanding exists regarding family members' evaluation processes for personal aides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how family members assess personal aides before and during employment.
- To identify key factors influencing family members' trust in personal aides.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative semistructured interviews with 10 families providing home care.
- Interviews transcribed verbatim and analyzed for thematic content.
- Participant demographics: family members aged 43-70, patients aged 67-86.
Main Results:
- Family members highly value personal aides but worry about risks from dishonest or incompetent care.
- Continuous monitoring is essential to ensure a hired personal aide meets initial trust expectations.
- Trustworthiness is paramount, with relationship dynamics often outweighing technical caregiving skills.
Conclusions:
- Effective care extends beyond medical and daily living assistance, encompassing emotional and relational aspects.
- Established trust with personal aides significantly improves quality of life; violated trust leads to negative outcomes.
- Interpersonal skills, communication, and affection are critical determinants of a personal aide's trustworthiness.
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