Through advancements in modern medicine, human beings worldwide are living longer. The increase in life expectancy creates a need for a more qualified and knowledgeable nursing workforce for the delivery of quality geriatric health care. Although nurses are the primary care providers for vulnerable older adults, they are generally not well trained or prepared in geriatric care. Therefore, the purpose of the project was to develop an education program aimed at improving nursing knowledge of geriatric care in the long-term care (LTC) setting. The goal of the project was to answer the research question: What impact would attendance in the program have on improving nursing geriatric knowledge, retention, and job satisfaction by project end? Guided by the advancing research and clinical practice through close collaboration (ARCC) model for evidence-based practice (EBP), the learning needs of nurses in the LTC setting were assessed. The 6-week education program was designed to provide education on the basics of geriatric care, pharmacology and aging, symptom evaluation, dementia care, and geriatric physical assessment. Project participants consisted of 8 nurses who volunteered to take part in the program. The program was evaluated using a pre-test and post-test method to examine nurse's knowledge before and after the education program. Using a paired t test, the results indicated a significant increase (p<.05) between the mean pre-test (3.75) and mean post-test (4.25) scores of nurse knowledge of geriatric care. The education program improved participant knowledge of geriatric care. Positive social change will be achieved with this scholarly project as nurses with greater knowledge gain confidence, strengthen decision making and clinical skills, and improve patient outcomes in the LTC setting.

Dementia is a neurological disorder primarily diagnosed in the geriatric population. A problem for paid caregivers of patients diagnosed with stage-4 dementia is that they may experience caregiving stress while rendering care. However, there was no research that described the lived experiences of paid caregivers. Caregiving stress can be accompanied by behaviors or comorbid conditions and specific symptoms of stress can have a differential wellness impact. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of paid caregivers of patients with dementia through Vroom's expectancy theory. Data were gathered through interpretative interviews from a sample of 10 to 15 purposefully selected nursing home paid caregivers. Research questions on the lived experiences and perceptions of caregivers when experiencing stress working with stage-4 dementia patients were explored. Responses to the open-ended questions were recorded and themes emerging from the interview questions were developed. Findings indicated that caregivers cope with their stress in part by coping with challenging patients through empathizing and being ready for anything. Results further showed that caregivers cope with stress by briefly withdrawing from the stress trigger, either physically or mentally. Caregiver stress can be reduced, and health maintained by other caregivers who learn from the coping methods of caregivers involved within this study.

O Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) é uma doença com início súbito que pode afetar o funcionamento físico, cognitivo e comportamental de uma pessoa. Diante das inúmeras transformações que pode causar, há grande chance de os sobreviventes vivenciarem a ocorrência do AVC como uma experiência estressante. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a trajetória e identificar os preditores do estresse psicológico dos idosos sobreviventes do AVC. Tratou-se de um estudo longitudinal e prospectivo, realizado no Distrito Federal. A amostra foi constituída por 50 idosos sobreviventes do AVC recrutados do setor de Emergência do Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal. A coleta de dados foi realizada em três momentos, a saber: duas semanas (T1), três meses (T2) e seis meses (T3) após a alta hospitalar. O instrumento para coleta de dados foi composto por questões sociodemográficas, clínicas, Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), Escala de Estresse Percebido - 10 itens (EEP-10), Escala do AVC do National Institute of Health (NIHSS), Medida da Independência Funcional (MIF), Escala de Depressão Geriátrica - 15 itens (EGD15).A média de idade dos sobreviventes do AVC foi de 70,3 (7,6) anos. Houve predomínio de idosos mais jovens (60 a 79 anos) e sem companheiro (54%). A amostra foi composta por número igualitário de participantes do sexo masculino e feminino. Os sobreviventes estudaram, em média, 4,2 anos, e a maioria recebia de um a dois salários mínimos (70%). O AVC isquêmico foi o tipo do AVC mais prevalente (96%). A média do número de comorbidades foi de 2,36 (DP=0,8), sendo que 78% dos idosos possuíam de duas a três comorbidades. A média da EEP-10 apresentou declínio no decorrer dos seis meses (p<0,001). Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as médias da EEP-10 nos momentos T1 e T2, T1 e T3, sendo mais acentuada entre os momentos T1 e T3 (p<0,001). Entre T1 e T3, a média da EEP-10 dos idosos sobreviventes do AVC apresentou queda de quase seis pontos (p<0,001). Não houve associação entre o estresse psicológico e as variáveis sociodemográficas (sexo, renda, idade, estado civil) no T1, T2, T3. Os idosos com cuidador apresentaram maior média na EEP-10 quando comparados aos idosos sem cuidador no T1 (p=0,003), T2 (p<0,001) e T3 (p=0,02). Os idosos com depressão apresentaram maior média na EEP-10 quando comparados aos idosos sem depressão no T1 (p<0,001), T2 (p<0,001) e T3 (p<0,001). Os sobreviventes com AVC moderado apresentaram maior média na EEP-10 quando comparados aos idosos com AVC leve no T1 ((p=0,001), T2 (p=0,006) e T3 (p<0,001). A redução da média da EEP-10 apresentou relação com o aumento da média da MIF (p=0,04) e a redução da média de EGD-15 (p<0,001). A média da MIF (?=-0,61; p=0,015) e da EGD-15 (?=0,30; p=0,01) no T1 foram preditores da média da EEP-10 no T3. Conclui-se que o estresse psicológico dos idosos sobreviventes do AVC diminui no decorrer dos seis meses após a alta hospitalar para casa. Além disso, menor funcionalidade e maior número de sintomas depressivos duas semanas após a alta prevêem maior nível de estresse psicológico seis meses após a alta / Stroke is a disease with a sudden onset that can affect the physical, cognitive and behavioral functioning of a person. In the face of the many transformations it may cause, there is a great chance that survivors will experience the occurrence of stroke as a stressful experience. This study aimed to analyze the trajectory and to identify the predictors of the psychological stress of the elderly stroke survivors. It was a longitudinal and prospective study, which took place in the Federal District. The sample consisted of 50 elderly stroke survivors, recruited from the Emergency Department of the Base Hospital of the Federal District. Data collection was performed in three moments, namely: two weeks (T1), three months (T2) and six months (T3) after hospital discharge. The instrument for data collection consisted of sociodemographic and clinical questions, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items (PSS-10), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Measure Independence Functional (MIF), Geriatric Depression Scale - 15 items (GDS-15). The average age of stroke survivors was 70.3 (7.6) years. There was a predominance of younger elderly (60 to 79 years) and those without a companion (54%). The sample consisted of an equal number of male and female participants. The survivors studied, on average, 4.2 years, and the majority received from one to two minimum wages (70%). Ischemic stroke was the most prevalent stroke type (96%). The mean number of comorbidities was 2.36 (SD = 0.8), and 78% of the elderly had from two to three comorbidities. The mean PSS-10 showed a decline over the six months (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the means of the PSS-10 at moments T1 and T2, T1 and T3, being more pronounced between T1 and T3 moments (p<0.001). Between T1 and T3, mean PSS-10 of stroke survivors presented a drop of almost six points (p<0.001). There was no association between psychological stress and sociodemographic variables (sex, income, age, marital status) in T1, T2 and T3. Elderly with caregivers presented a higher average in the PSS-10 when compared to the untreated elderly in T1 (p=0.003), T2 (p<0.001) and T3 (p=0.02). The elderly with depression presented a higher mean in the PSS-10 when compared to the elderly without depression in T1 (p<0.001), T2 (p<0.001) and T3 (p<0.001). Survivors with moderate stroke presented a higher mean in the PSS-10 when compared to the elderly with mild stroke in T1 (p=0.001), T2 (p=0.006) and T3 (p<0.001). The reduction of the mean PSS-10 was related to the increase in the mean FIM (p = 0.04) and the reduction in the mean GDS-15 (p<0.001). The mean FIM (?=-0.61, p=0.015) and the GDS-15 (?=0.30, p=0.01) in T1 were predictors of mean PSS-10 in T3. It has been concluded that the psychological stress of the elderly stroke survivors decreases during the six months after hospital discharge. In addition, lower functionality and greater number of depressive symptoms, two weeks post-discharge, predict higher level of psychological stress six months after it

Background: The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a program of care that enrolls nursing home eligible and offers them community-based long-term services and supports (LTSS). Many PACE enrollees are “dual eligibles” (DEs) meaning they qualify for Medicare and Medicaid services. Dental care is a unique feature of PACE among LTSS, as many LTSS do not include dental care, even though this population has difficulty in accessing these services. However, little is known about the delivery of dental care at PACE and how dental care and oral health promotion and prevention is being integrated into PACE. Thus, the purpose of this study is to describe the delivery and integration of dental care at PACE. Methods: Based on ten preliminary interviews and the PACE manual from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a 56-question survey was developed to describe the delivery and integration of dental care at PACE across the country. In addition, the survey asked programs to rank their focus among five specialties (dentistry, mental health, optometry, audiology, podiatry), to determine if a program’s focus on dental care would influence the delivery and integration of dental services at PACE, and if this would lead the program to have a very high percentage of new and continuous enrollees with regular dental examinations. A publicly available contact list was obtained from CMS and the survey was distributed to all 124 PACE programs via email. Results: Respondents in this study represented 35 programs (28.2%) in 23 states (74.2%). Most programs had no limits for dental care, minimal waitlists, and provide most dental services without exclusions. This is evident by the 51.4% of programs that have no dental budget, 100% of programs providing preventive and basic restorative dental care, and nearly 100% offering advanced restorative services. Many programs also did not have a waitlist for non-emergent dental care. Few programs include a dentist in the routine operations of the PACE program, as evidenced by few programs having dentists conduct the dental assessment for the initial comprehensive assessment or having a dental director. A statistically significant association with a high percentage of reported utilization of dental examinations was detected with programs having a system for quality assurance for dental care (t=0.358, p=0.024), a protocol for a dental cleaning every 6-12 months (t=0.595, p<0.001), mandating a comprehensive dental examination (t=0.390, p=0.007), and providing preventive dental services onsite with built-in equipment (t=0.454, p=0.001). No factors were statistically associated with the focus ranking for dentistry among the other specialties. Conclusion: This study suggests that compared to nursing homes, PACE enrollees may have greater ability to receive dental care without limitations of the state adult Medicaid dental benefit. Dentistry also appears to be a high focus for some PACE programs. This study has begun to identify structures that support positive outcomes that can be used to develop best practices and guidelines for the delivery of dental care in PACE and other LTSS. Future studies are needed to better understand barriers and facilitators to the delivery of dental care and other specialty services.

It was the goal of this study to examine the ecological validity of a number of measures of mental status for geriatric individuals. Subjects were 40 alert, ambulatory male VA patients. Mental status instruments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and the Vocabulary subtest of the WAIS-R. Measures of functional behavior included the Woodcock-Johnson Scales of Independent Behavior (SIB) and the Parachek Geriatric Behavior Rating Scale (PGBRS). Significant relationships were found between the MMSE and the SIB, between the WMS and the SIB, and between the WMS and the PGBRS. It was found that estimation of functional behavior can be enhanced significantly through the use of battery of mental status instruments.

The current literature suggests one of the challenges of nursing today is to meet the health care needs of the growing older population, people over the age of 65. Quality of nursing is important for acutely ill older people who are the largest group of patients in terms of hospital admissions. The ageing population is a major focus for social and economic planners and policy makers. There is an increasing need for health systems to change their focus to more closely assess strategies used to manage the acutely ill older hospital population. The main aim of this study was to improve the quality of nursing care for older, acutely ill, hospitalised medical patients. The study used a mixed method triangulated approach that utilised quantitative and qualitative methods to survey perceived needs of older patients, their family members/carers and the nursing staff, in the process of developing, implementing and evaluating a new model of care using a participatory action research (PAR) process. There were three specific objectives. The first was to evaluate which aspects of nursing care were considered most important for older patients during acute hospitalisation from the perspective of older patients, their family members/carers and their nurses. The second was to develop and implement a model of care that addressed the identified nursing care needs and priorities of older patients through the PAR process. The third was to determine whether employing a PAR process, the chosen model of care addressed the identified nursing care needs and priorities and resulted in increased patient satisfaction and improved health care for older patients. This study demonstrated the implementation of a PAR process to motivate nursing staff, utilising an evidence-based model of care approach, resulted in changes to clinical nursing practice that impacted positively on older patients’ and nursing staff’s satisfaction with care provided, patient knowledge and final health outcomes. It is recommended that the findings of this study be applied to develop guidelines for acutely hospitalised medical patients, particularly for issues relating to educational sessions to increase the patient’s functional activities and knowledge levels of their medication regimes prior to discharge. / Master of Health Science (Hons)

The first purpose of this study was to describe the deaths of fifteen nursing home residents with late-stage dementia. The devastating effect of dementia on a person has been called a ‘living death’ (Woods, 1989). The caring which occurs when someone is going through this process in a nursing home was recorded and analysed. In analysing this act of caring, the second purpose was to look for the origins of the structures and the sources of pressure that shaped the context and therefore helped determine the behaviour of the various groups under observation. These groups were residents and their relatives, the staff of the nursing home and the treating doctors. Before commencing observations and carrying out this study, an understanding needed to be developed of: the condition of dementia as it is perceived by health professionals and presented in the media; the institutions in which the majority of people with dementia end their days; the background and conditions of the staff who nurse in them; the models of care that guide and determine policies; and the conceptions of life and death which underpin relevant laws and moral standpoints. Accordingly, in part 1. chapter 1 the history, causes, pathology and effects of dementing conditions are examined. Relevant medical and lay literature including media influences are examined which pertain to the subject of death and dementia and nursing home care. The history of this institutional care is briefly examined together with the growth of the discipline of gerontological nursing. Chapter 2 discusses some of the effects of this history on present day care and the concept of emotional work being carried out within the present day aged care public policy regulations. The moral arguments surrounding illness and dying in Australian society today are briefly discussed. Chapter 3 describes the conceptual framework for the study, the ethnographic method that has been employed and an outline of critical theory as the basis for analysis. The chapter concludes by recounting the practical steps taken to arrange the field work, secure the consent of participants, record data and gather documents, and outlines the ethical considerations given to the undertaking of the study. Chapter 4 describes the context in which the study took place and the first tentative exploration of the culture from an etic perspective. Part 2 describes the death trajectories observed and raises some questions about alternative strategies that may have been considered within a different paradigm of caring. In chapter 5 the death trajectories of each of the fifteen residents in the study are described, each written with a particular emphasis to illustrate aspects of the culture of care that emerged through thematic analysis. Observations, comments and feelings from staff and family are wound in and around these case studies. Chapter 6 looks more closely at the impact of policy and institutional pressure on the milieu in which these deaths took place. Part 3 draws conclusions from the observations and makes suggestions for emancipatory change as viewed from the author's standpoint of critical ethnographic analysis. In the final chapter an argument is presented for policy change that leads a movement towards palliative care practices for people with late-stage dementia. Approaches to implementation of palliative care will need to take account of any expression by the resident such as an advanced directive, indicating a preferred approach to treatment in the period prior to death; a need for a better understanding of such issues as the significance of body breakdown, the manifestations of pain and electrolyte imbalances; the surrounding ethical complexities and shift in public opinion, and perhaps, most of ail, the culture of the institutions in which this dying will take place. A definition of late-stage dementia which might be used in determining patterns of care is set out. A discussion about changes in practice which relate lo communication with treating doctors, the administering of antibiotics, the relief of pain, the mobilisation of residents and the provision of food and water takes place in light of the evidence found. The discussion of these issues is raised in the form of debate. Each aspect needs more rigorous analysis and information so that evidence-based practice, rather than care which is value-laden and emotional, can be used when treatment decisions are made for people with late-stage dementia.

Abstract Older adults with complex memory problems benefit when they have the opportunity to consult with a specialist for a comprehensive cognitive assessment. Specialists such as geriatricians, psychogeriatricians or neurologists often work in major cities or large metropolitan towns. Travelling to see a specialist either alone or with a carer is complicated for an older person because of medical issues or disability. The use of videoconferencing may provide a way to link a specialist with a patient without the need for the patient, or the specialist, to travel long distances. Two literature reviews were carried out. The initial review identified studies of the diagnosis of cognition via telemedicine. Thirty-two studies were identified which assessed cognition via telephone or video conference. The focus of the study was either the administration of a standardised cognitive assessment tool (n=30) or an unstructured comprehensive cognitive assessment interview (all via video conference) (n=2). The sample sizes were small but the levels of agreement were high, suggesting that further work in this area may identify that diagnosis of dementia via video conference is reliable. There has been limited work in the area of diagnostic agreement when a specialist is assessing a patient for the first time via video conference, even less work in the area of mental health assessment of older people. The second literature review identified 19 studies of diagnostic agreement using video conference with a sample size of 20 or more. The fields of research were: Dermatology (n=10); Mental Health (n=4); Minor Injuries (n=2); Neurology (n=2); and Rheumatology (n=1). Of the four studies in the area of mental health, one focused on the diagnosis of dementia with the publication of a protocol for assessing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) via video conference. The review highlighted that diagnosis via video conference in other medical fields had been shown to be reliable but that limited work was evident regarding the reliability of diagnosing dementia via video conference. A range of statistical analyses have been used to measure agreement in studies of diagnosis via VC. Overall Proportional Agreement (Po) and Cohen’s kappa (K) are the two most common calculations. There was little uniformity of reporting in the studies identified in the literature review. The variation in reporting made it difficult to compare results or provide data for a meta-analysis of similar studies. Consideration of the methods for analysing diagnostic agreement was undertaken using the approaches identified in the literature review as a starting point. The aim of this research was to identify if a diagnosis of the presence of dementia in an older adult by a specialist is reliable when the assessment interview occurs via video conference. A pilot study was carried out prior to the implementation of a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded multi-site project to test inter-rater agreement for the diagnosis of dementia and subsidiary questions. The candidate is a Chief Investigator (CI) on the NHMRC project grant and participated in writing the grant submission. A pilot study was completed for the purpose of refining the research protocol and establishing preliminary data for the calculation of sample size. A geriatrician carried out a cognitive assessment via video conference with the patient and the carer. The doctor had access to the patient’s chart and the results of a battery of standardised cognitive assessments administered face-to-face (FTF) by the clinic nurse earlier in the day. A second interview was carried out, face-to-face, by a second doctor on the same day. Inter-rater reliability was assessed between doctors. To place the level of agreement in context, inter-rater reliability between paired face-to-face assessments was also measured. Forty-two participants were divided into two groups: paired face-to-face assessments (FF, n=22) or paired video conference and face-to-face assessments (FV/VF, n=20). Twenty-two participants were male. Their average age was 70 years (SD=11.1, Range 50-90). The mean Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) score was 23.93 (SD=5.42, Range 8-30)[1]. The outcome of agreement was measured using PO and Cohen’s K. FF group (PO=0.636; K=0.430, p=0.005) and the FV/VF group (PO=0.650; K=0.650, p=0.004) showed similar levels of agreement. The main study was a non-inferiority, prospective cohort study following a similar format as the pilot. Patients were randomised to two groups. The first group participated in two interviews; one via VC, the other was face-to-face (FV/VF). The second group was subjected to dual face-to-face assessments (FF). The video conference interview consisted of real-time video conference with the doctor interacting with both the carer and the patient. A battery of standardised assessments, a medical history, imaging and blood tests were prepared before hand and available to the doctor for use in the interview. One hundred and fifty-five participants were divided into two groups: paired face-to-face assessments (FF, n=73) or paired video conference and face-to-face assessments (FV or VF, n=82). Seventy-five of the participants were male. The average age was 76-years (SD=9, Range 54-95). The mean SMMSE was 23.8 (SD=4.4, Range 8-30). Overall proportional agreement (Po) and Weighted K were calculated as a measure of agreement for the presence of dementia. The FF group (Po=0.740; K=0.57, p<0.0001) and the FV/VF group (Po=0.780; K=0.64, p<0.0001) showed similar levels of agreement. Using the same study cohort, additional data were collected to identify the significance of the physical examination (PE) for diagnosing dementia. One of two doctors was allocated the task of completing a physical examination of the patient following initial assessment interview and after the diagnosis decisions had been recorded. Following the physical examination a second record of diagnosis decisions were recorded by the same doctor. The doctor was asked to identify if the diagnosis, formulation, treating options or additional investigations had altered as a result of the in-person physical examination. The physical examination supported clarity of the diagnosis particularly if a vascular element was involved. This dissertation provides evidence of the reliability of a diagnosis of dementia obtained via video conference. Furthermore, the work detailed in this dissertation represents the largest international study on assessing diagnostic accuracy of cognition and makes a significant contribution to the work in telemedicine in the area of mental health. This dissertation provides generalisations that can impact the use of video conference for diagnosis across a range of specialities, with the ultimate goal of improving access to specialist advice for people living in rural areas.

<p> </p><p><strong><p>Sammanfattning</p></strong><p>På 1940-talet föddes det många barn och denna generation skulle ut i arbetslivet under något som kallats rekordåren, vilket innebär att generationen inte i någon större utsträckning har märkt av arbetslöshet. När denna generation nu lämnar arbetslivet kommer de att lämna en hålighet efter sig. Enligt flera studier har det visat sig att människor i dagens samhälle är friskare och lever längre än tidigare. 40-talisterna anses vara annorlunda förhållandevis mot de generationer som idag har omsorg i dagens samhälle. Trots att vi lever längre och är friskare kommer 40-talisterna att behöva omvårdnad i framtiden och genom att de har arbetat hela sitt liv, kan detta leda till att de har andra krav än tidigare generationer. Vårt syfte med denna uppsats är att undersöka vilka förväntningar 40-talisterna har på äldreomsorgen i framtiden. De frågeställningar vi har haft som utgångspunkt är: Vilka förväntningar har 40-talisterna på sin egen omvårdnad inom äldreomsorgen i framtiden? Hur upplever 40-talisterna att äldreomsorgen fungerar idag? Vilka förändringar är önskvärda inom äldreomsorgen i framtiden?</p><p>Vi har valt att använda oss av kvalitativ metod i vår undersökning, där vi intervjuade 10 informanter som alla är födda under 1940-talet. Informanterna är bosatta i två olika län i Sverige och de är både män och kvinnor. Vi valde vår teoretiska referensram utifrån vårt empiriska material. Den teori vi har använt oss av är empowerment. Utifrån vårt resultat och teori har vi byggt upp vår analys, vi har även valt att jämföra analysen mot tidigare forskning inom området och begreppen trygghet och behov.</p><p>Vi valde att dela upp resultatet i olika teman bland annat, förväntningar på den egna framtida vården, upplevelser till den befintliga vården och önskemål om framtida förändringar av vården. Resultatet visar på att 40-talisterna har andra förväntningar på äldreomsorgen än vad tidigare generationer har. Detta handlar bland annat om att man förväntar sig att få den personliga hjälp man behöver och att man ska få något tillbaka av samhället, genom skatten man har betalat.</p></p> / <p><strong><p>Abstract</p></strong></p><p>Many children were born in the 1940s and this generation was integrated into working life under something called the record years, which means that they have not been noticed by unemployment. As this generation leaves the working life, they will leave a void behind. According to several studies people are living longer and are healthier in the community. People who were born in the 1940s consider being different relative to the generations who have geriatric care in today's society. Although we leave longer and are healthier will the people who were born in the 1940s need geriatric care in the future, and the fact that they have worked their whole life may lead them to have different requirements than previous generations. Our purpose with this essay was to examine the expectations the people who were born in the 1940s have on the geriatric care in the future. The issues we have had as a starting point is: What expectations have the people who were born in the 1940s in their own geriatric care in the future? How are the people who were born in the 1940s experience of the geriatric care today? What changes is desirable in the geriatric care in the future?</p><p>We have chosen to use a qualitative method in our investigation, we interviewed 10 informants and all were born in the 1940s. The informants were living in two different counties in Sweden and they were both men and women. We chose our theoretical frame of reference on the basis of our empirical material. The theory we have used is empowerment. We have built up our analysis based on our results and theory; we have also chosen to compare the analysis against previous research in this field and the concept safety and needs.</p><p>We have chosen to divide the results in different themes, some themes are expectations about their own future care, experiences to the existing care and wishes for future changes in the geriatric care.The results display that the people who were born in the 1940s have greater expectations for their geriatric care then previous generations have.</p>

<p>Sammanfattning</p><p> </p><p>Arbetsledare är nyckelpersoner i äldreomsorgens verksamheter, de är en länk mellan högre chefer och de underställda medarbetarna. För att arbetet ska fungera på ett tillfredställande sätt, bör arbetsledaren ha den kompetens som krävs, för funktionen den har. Arbetsledarens funktion är att motivera och handleda medarbetarna för att omsorgstagarna i sin tur, ska få ett värdigt och gott liv. Undersökningens syfte var att undersöka gällande kompetenskrav för arbetsledare inom dagens äldreomsorg. Vi inriktade oss således på begreppen kompetens, utbildning och ledarskap. Studien grundas på fem samtalsintervjuer, genomförda med olika representanter inom området, på olika nivåer i samhället. Resultatet visade bland annat att det inte finns lagstadgade krav vad gäller en arbetsledares kunskapsnivå, men att den arbetsledande funktionen upplevs som mycket viktig och svår att hantera. Informanterna menar att det måste ställas vissa grundläggande krav på arbetsledarnas kompetens. Svaren visar även att arbetsledarna behöver en akademisk grundutbildning inom vård och omsorg, helst med inriktning mot äldre och handikappade. De anses även behöva en ledarskapsutbildning. Ett allmänt råd om kompetenskrav gällande arbetsledare är under diskussion hos Socialstyrelsen, samt om en legitimering är möjlig för denna yrkesgrupp.</p> / <p><p>Abstract</p><p> </p><p>The work conductors are the key persons in the geriatric care's activities and are a link between higher managers and the submitted employees. In order to get the work function in a satisfactory way, the work conductors should have the competence that is required. The work conductors’ function is to motivate and give guidance to the employees, so that the elderly people on that way can live a dignified and good life. The survey's aim was to examine applying competence requirement for work conductors within today's geriatric care. We concentrated on the concepts competence, education and leadership. The survey is based on five deliberation interviews, implemented with different representatives within the area, on different levels in the society. The result showed among other thing that there are not statutory requirements regarding work conductors knowledge level, but that the work conductive function is experienced as very important and difficult to handle. The interview persons mean that it must be set certain fundamental requirements, on the work conductors' competence. The replies are also showing that the work conductors need an academic basis education within care and long-term care, preferable with direction against the elderly and the disabled. They are considered to also need a leadership education. General advices of competence requirements are discussed at National Board of Health and Welfare and also perhaps try to legitimate this occupational group.</p><p> </p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The work conductors are the key persons in the geriatric care's activities and are a link between higher managers and the submitted employees. In order to get the work function in a satisfactory way, the work conductors should have the competence that is required. The work conductors’ function is to motivate and give guidance to the employees, so that the elderly people on that way can live a dignified and good life. The survey's aim was to examine applying competence requirement for work conductors within today's geriatric care. We concentrated on the concepts competence, education and leadership. The survey is based on five deliberation interviews, implemented with different representatives within the area, on different levels in the society. The result showed among other thing that there are not statutory requirements regarding work conductors knowledge level, but that the work conductive function is experienced as very important and difficult to handle. The interview persons mean that it must be set certain fundamental requirements, on the work conductors' competence. The replies are also showing that the work conductors need an academic basis education within care and long-term care, preferable with direction against the elderly and the disabled. They are considered to also need a leadership education. General advices of competence requirements are discussed at National Board of Health and Welfare and also perhaps try to legitimate this occupational group.</p>