Syftet med denna studie var att analysera skriftligt arbetsmaterial och offentliga informationsdokument som ligger till grund för förändringsarbete för ett ökat brukarinflytande gällande sociala omsorgsinsatser och servicetjänster i ordinärt boende, det vill säga det egna hemmet. Vi valde att studera Örebro kommun och detta genom en kvalitativ metod i form av en litteraturgranskning. Vårt teoretiska fundament har bestått av socialtjänstlagen, Lag om kommunal befogenhet att tillhandahålla servicetjänster åt äldre, Lag om valfrihetssystem, salutogent synsätt, Kasam och empowerment. Vårt resultat visar att Örebro kommun har infört fyra medel för ett ökat brukarinflytande. Dessa är: förändrad biståndshandläggning, Lag om kommunal befogenhet att tillhandahålla servicetjänster åt äldre, Servicetorget med lotsarna samt Lag om valfrihetssystem. Vi har även studerat hur Örebro kommun har valt att tillämpa Lag om valfrihetssystem med utgångspunkt från lagstiftarens intentioner. De slutsatser vi kan dra från vår studie är att Örebro kommuns ambition är att uppnå ett ökat brukarinflytande för de äldre. Dock ser vi att det är de äldre som har kunskap, kraft och ork att föra sin talan, som kommer att kunna åtnjuta brukarinflytande. De äldre som inte besitter dessa egenskaper kommer dock att behöva ett mer omfattande stöd och hjälp från kommunen för att uppnå ökat brukarinflytande. / The purpose of this study was to analyze the written working material and public information documents on the basis of change for increased user involvement in terms of social care interventions and services in ordinary housing. We chose to study Örebro municipality and this through a qualitative approach in the form of a literature review. Our theoretical foundation consisted of the Social Services Act, Act on municipal authority to provide services to the elderly, the Act on freedom of choice system, salutogenic approach, Kasam and empowerment. Our results show that Örebro municipality has introduced four measures for enhanced user involvement. These are: change needs assessment, Act on municipal authority to provide services to older, the Service market with guides and the Act on freedom of choice system. We have also studied how Örebro municipality has chosen to apply the Act of freedom of choice system based on the legislator’s intentions. The conclusions we can draw from our study is that Örebro municipality has the ambition to achieve a greater user involvement of the elderly who have knowledge, power and energy to present the case. The elderly who do not possess these characteristics will need more extensive support and assistance from the municipality to achieve increased user involvement.

Syftet med studien var att beskriva vårdpersonalens uppfattning om risker för undernäring och preventivt arbete hos personer 70 år och äldre, på olika vårdnivåer och inom en kommun. Studien hade en beskrivande design och tolv vårdpersonal deltog, varav fyra sjuksköterskor från en medicinavdelning, två sjuksköterskor, en sjukgymnast och en arbetsterapeut från en hälsocentral samt två sjuksköterskor, en enhetschef och en sjukgymnast från ett äldreboende inom en kommun. Intervjuer användes vid datainsamlingen. Data analyserades genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys och bildade kategorierna Tillstånd som utgör en risk för undernäring, Säkerställa näringsintaget, Ett strukturerat arbetssätt samt Samverkan och ansvar. Som risker för undernäring beskrevs sjukdomar, funktionsnedsättning samt förlorad uppfattning om vikten. Att säkerställa näringsintag innefattade mat, mellanmål och måltidsmiljö. Ett strukturerat arbetssätt handlade om riskbedömningar, åtgärder samt utvärdering. Vidare beskrevs samverkan inom och utanför den egna yrkesgruppen, vårdnivåer och ansvaret omkring arbetet med näringsfrågorna. Vårdpreventivt arbetssätt upplevdes spara tid, tydliggöra vad som skall göras och möjliggöra utvärderingar. Läkarens medverkan i det preventiva arbetet behöver klargöras och rutiner för spridning av arbetssättet till andra enheter formas. Vidare behövs beslut om hur näringstillstånd och behov ska dokumenteras och rapporteras för att säkerställas mellan vårdnivåerna / The purpose was to describe nursing staffs’ perceptions of risks for malnutrition and preventive efforts thereof, for patients 70 years and older, at different care levels within one municipality. Descriptive design was used and twelve participants included; two district nurses, one physiotherapist and one occupational therapist from a health care centre, two registered nurses, one unit director and one physiotherapist from a nursing home in the municipality and four registered nurses from an internal medicine hospital ward. Interviews and qualitative content analysis was used resulting in four categories Conditions of risks for malnutrition, Ensuring nutritional intake, Structured way to work and Collaboration and responsibilities. The participants’ described diseases, disabilities and lost of apprehension concerning weight constituting malnutrition risks. Meals and meal environment influence nutritional intake. Risk assessments, interventions and evaluations mirrored structured way of working. Collaboration with colleagues, other professionals and care levels were highlighted together with responsibilities. Physicians’ participation in malnutrition preventions needs clarification. Improvements like documentation of the nutritional status among the elderly and reports between the different levels of care are needed to ensure safe nutritional care.

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of leadership on co-workers during a re-organization. Our framing of the problem is based on a book written by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal (2007) “Reframing organizations – artistry, choice and leadership” and their four perspectives on leadership. The questions that our study is based on are: <ul type="disc">What leadership perspective was characteristic for the chief of staff during the re-organization? How did the employees experience the leadership of the chiefs during the re-organization? In what way do the chiefs of staff feel that their leadership affected the employees during the re-organization?   To get a deeper understanding in this subject we conducted interviews with the two chiefs of staff and their employees in a small suburb to Stockholm, Sweden. In our background we described the history of the suburb and why this re-organization is taking place. Thereafter we account for research in this area of expertise. In chapter five we account for the four perspectives and organization culture. We analyzed our interviewed material from these four perspectives and organization culture. Thereafter we conducted a conclusion based on the analyzed material. We concluded that both chiefs of staff were influenced by all four perspectives and this influence had different impacts on their employees. One chief were influenced by a Human Resource-perspective and a perspective focusing on structure. The second chief was also influenced by a perspective focusing on structure but also the perspective that focuses on politics.

Using ethnomethodology and influenced by ethnography, the purpose of this research has been to explore the meanings that elder residents in and around Hafford, SK and Val Marie, SK derive from their relationship with and confer upon their cultural landscapes. Hence, for a month and a half, I lived in Hafford and then Val Marie in order to speak with elder residents (age 60 or over) who have lived and worked in or around these areas for at least twenty years.<p>The meanings of elder residents hinge on their memories of growing up and making a living when younger. Their meanings also resonate with the ideas and perspectives that these individuals have formed regarding the changes in their cultural landscape. Changes include those to agriculture; service provision; and the formation of the Grasslands National Park for which Val Marie is the gateway community and Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve in which Hafford is located. <p>The broad themes of connections, separation, and continuity that I distilled in the narratives of elder residents have guided the identification of the meanings. To this end, the cultural landscape concept has provided an ideal framework. Including the different and diverse meanings of elder residents is integral to our conception of the cultural landscape as a whole, a characteristic that assists in guiding change and development in these communities. <p>In particular, elder residents contribute to an ethical landscape infused with meanings engendered by sentiments of connections, separation, and continuity and ones that hearken to their ethics. Such meanings can have a substantive impact on the decisions influencing these areas. Furthermore, as part of intangible cultural heritage, elder residents offer the meanings they have forged as well as their ethics, the ongoing result of having lived and worked in their cultural landscape. <p>This research has helped to bring relief to the meanings of elder residents in Hafford and Val Marie. Such meanings are necessary in the overall identity of the cultural landscape. The meanings that elder residents derive from their cultural landscape are a valuable asset for communities seeking to maintain their social and economic viability and sustainability.

The purpose of this study was to understand what the care recipients considering as care quality in their long-term eldercare. Our intention has been to contribute a bit to the development of the care work. Previous studies show that user surveys are carried out regularly but there is very few studies that are based on care recipients own opinions and experiences. The main questions in the study have been to examine what is considered as good elder care from a user perspective. Even to understand the characteristics of a good meeting with the care staff and also examine how the elder care in Nybro municipality can improve. This study was based on a qualitative method in the form of seven interviews with recipient of elder care. The interviews were based on five themes which were; background, care, interaction, "special housing and social interaction" and also changes. The collected material is analyzed from a symbolic interactionism perspective. We view the symbolic interactionism as a useful perspective to gain an understanding of the interaction between care recipients and staff, and how it can develop care work The result revealed that the elder care in Nybro Municipality is generally of good quality and that it works well with home care. The care recipients appreciate when the care staffs are cheerful and friendly during visits, and they use the term "helpfulness" to describe what characterize a good treatment. What emerges as a negative aspect of the elder care is that the care staffs are extremely busy and always in a rush at each visit, which may partly affect the care a bit negative. The study shows a desire for change to improve care staff working environment. All respondents have different perceptions of the elderly and what is considered quality of care. Although there are common views on certain things, it is because of their differing views at who they interact with and in what context, the overall situation.

Using ethnomethodology and influenced by ethnography, the purpose of this research has been to explore the meanings that elder residents in and around Hafford, SK and Val Marie, SK derive from their relationship with and confer upon their cultural landscapes. Hence, for a month and a half, I lived in Hafford and then Val Marie in order to speak with elder residents (age 60 or over) who have lived and worked in or around these areas for at least twenty years.<p>The meanings of elder residents hinge on their memories of growing up and making a living when younger. Their meanings also resonate with the ideas and perspectives that these individuals have formed regarding the changes in their cultural landscape. Changes include those to agriculture; service provision; and the formation of the Grasslands National Park for which Val Marie is the gateway community and Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve in which Hafford is located. <p>The broad themes of connections, separation, and continuity that I distilled in the narratives of elder residents have guided the identification of the meanings. To this end, the cultural landscape concept has provided an ideal framework. Including the different and diverse meanings of elder residents is integral to our conception of the cultural landscape as a whole, a characteristic that assists in guiding change and development in these communities. <p>In particular, elder residents contribute to an ethical landscape infused with meanings engendered by sentiments of connections, separation, and continuity and ones that hearken to their ethics. Such meanings can have a substantive impact on the decisions influencing these areas. Furthermore, as part of intangible cultural heritage, elder residents offer the meanings they have forged as well as their ethics, the ongoing result of having lived and worked in their cultural landscape. <p>This research has helped to bring relief to the meanings of elder residents in Hafford and Val Marie. Such meanings are necessary in the overall identity of the cultural landscape. The meanings that elder residents derive from their cultural landscape are a valuable asset for communities seeking to maintain their social and economic viability and sustainability.

This essay explores the economical and social paradigms surrounding one of the most influential Nordic border dynastic noble families in the second half of the fifteenth century - the Axelsson Totts. How mercantile possibilities and opportunities offered to them, reflected on their political actions and social bands. The Axelsson brothers of the Tott Dynasty would become of one of the most powerful noble families within the Nordic Union between 1444 och 1487. Axel Pedersen (Tott) would through well chosen marriage alliances into the noble families of both Denmark and Sweden, and with political prowess lay the foundation for one of the most dynamic family empires of the fifteenth century. In the year 1442, the Axelsson brothers swore loyalty to each other; to protect and defend their mercantile and economical interests in Denmark and Sweden. They would eventually control the trading routes in the border areas of the Union, and by exploiting the political chaos within the Union they would gain access and influence to the land trading routes for export and import within the Union and the shipping export routes in the Baltic Sea allowing them access to the Russian market through Finland and Estonia. The island of Gotland, with its tactical and important geographical position in the Baltic Sea became the key to the Nordic Union. Olof Axelsson (Tott) sailing under the Danish flag took possession of Gotland in 1449. Although technically a part of the Danish kingdom, in practice the island would remain independent and under the control of the Axelsson brothers until 1487 when the last surviving brother, Sir Ivar relinquished his rights to Gotland in favor of the Danish monarch, King Hans. The Axelsson brothers (Tott) would hold the key to The Nordic Union for almost four decades. Thus controlling the future of the union within the family by marriage, by political associations within and outside of the Union and most importantly by creating an economical empire based on personal family politics and border gentry aspirations.

Opening food packages without additional aids is a common problem, which especially affects elder people. A study carried out at the Professorship of Human Factors and Ergonomics shows results of opening successes at a variety of packages. Opening a jar of gherkins proved to be a challenging task for the majority of the test persons. Further examples of badly designed packages as well as good solutions are introduced.

The purpose with this study is to examine and analyze the eldercare staffs conceptions and perceptions about the construction of ethnicity and aging, in Swedish eldercare, to illustrate the process of othering. The authors interviewed eight people who work in the eldercare by using a vignette. We have analyzed our result from the interviews through several theories and earlier research pertinent to the subject. The study has shown that eldercare staff through their conceptions and perceptions unconscious been conducive to make and recompose constructions of ethnicity and elder. The constructions of ethnicity and elder can be conductive to processes of othering.

This dissertation explores the impact of technology on social life. Focusing on webcam-mediated audio-visual conversations between Japanese families in the United States and their extended family members in Japan, I examine how technology participates in creating an interactional space for the families to manage intra- and intergenerational relationships. Combining ethnography with turn-by-turn analyses of naturally occurring webcam interactions, I specifically investigate how cultural, discursive, and family practices are transformed in innovative ways and how families adapt to the emerging mediated space. Looking at how interactional activities are coordinated across spaces, I show that webcam interactions constitute a new type of shared living space in which multigenerational family relationships are created and managed. I call this emerging space the virtual ie (‘house’ and ‘stem-family system’). In this virtually conjoined space, children, parents, and grandparents are visually familiarized with each other’s households and socialized to each other’s virtual presence. Even though the ie is no longer a juridical unit of co-residence, my goal is to discuss the significance of the ie in understanding how transnational Japanese families can dwell in a shared living space created by webcam interactions. My analyses demonstrate how webcam encounters create a stage for participants to perform various identities in interactions. Learning to talk and participate in such webcam interactions, children are socialized to their ie belongings and identities. Additionally, even though far-flung children do not provide physical and daily care for their parents in Japan, they actively take care of elder parents’ media environments. I demonstrate that what I call media care practices add another context for adult children living abroad to carry out their filial responsibilities. I also show that the management of webcam visual fields creates a type of social field that reflects local understandings of social positioning in ie structures. How participants decide to display themselves to others by manipulating the webcam’s visual fields provides a new way to demonstrate various social relationships and responsibilities over long distances. From this perspective, a virtual ie is not merely a reflection of an ideological understanding of Japanese families, but an interactional achievement facilitated by webcams. / text