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Exchange and power in special settings for the aged
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1981
Summary
This study examined power dynamics in aged care homes using social exchange theory. Staff hold significant power, especially in nursing units, by controlling resources and shaping negotiations, impacting resident well-being.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Goffman's model of institutional totality provides a framework for understanding total institutions.
- Social exchange theory offers insights into power-balance dynamics within social settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze power-dependence relationships in aged care facilities.
- To apply a social-exchange framework to Goffman's model of institutional totality.
Main Methods:
- Examined boarding and nursing units in two homes for the aged.
- Utilized a social-exchange framework to analyze power dynamics.
Main Results:
- Resident power was influenced by social resources and patienthood conditions.
- Boarders responded to both peer and staff expectations.
- Nursing unit patients, lacking peer cohesion, conformed to staff demands due to staff control over rewards.
Conclusions:
- Staff power in aged care settings is rooted in their control over negotiation conditions and resources.
- Humanizing late-life settings requires acknowledging and addressing staff's structural power.
- Understanding social exchange dynamics is crucial for effective aged care interventions.