<p>Many organizational changes have been accomplished in elder care since the 1980's and many of those have been influenced by market mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to examine how the implementation of these market mechanisms has affected three important aspects in the work situation for personnel. These aspects are, demand, control and support. To attain the purpose of this study, five qualitative interviews with home care personnel have been carried out. The interview material has been analyzed and structured with the help of Karasek and Theorells demand-control-support model. The study shows that the demands on personnel has increased, the prospect of personnel to control their work situation has both decreased and increased in different regards, finally, that support has improved after the implementation of market mechanisms in the municipality where the study was done. This implies that the personnel's prerequisites for self development, teaching and motivation in some regards seem to have improved. Although, at the same time, the increased demands of cost efficiency adhered to time pressure seems to hinder personnel from using their skills and to make work related decisions. This also means that they in their work situation are at a greater risk of suffering illness.</p>

Many organizational changes have been accomplished in elder care since the 1980's and many of those have been influenced by market mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to examine how the implementation of these market mechanisms has affected three important aspects in the work situation for personnel. These aspects are, demand, control and support. To attain the purpose of this study, five qualitative interviews with home care personnel have been carried out. The interview material has been analyzed and structured with the help of Karasek and Theorells demand-control-support model. The study shows that the demands on personnel has increased, the prospect of personnel to control their work situation has both decreased and increased in different regards, finally, that support has improved after the implementation of market mechanisms in the municipality where the study was done. This implies that the personnel's prerequisites for self development, teaching and motivation in some regards seem to have improved. Although, at the same time, the increased demands of cost efficiency adhered to time pressure seems to hinder personnel from using their skills and to make work related decisions. This also means that they in their work situation are at a greater risk of suffering illness.

Forskningen visar att språket är viktig när det kommer till vård. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka hur vårdgivare inom hemtjänsten hanterar och uppfattar språksvårigheter med äldre invandrare som inte kan svenska. För att besvara syftet har kvalitativa, semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomförts med sex stycken vårdpersonal inom hemtjänsten. Resultatet visar att språksvårigheter är vanligt förekommande men att det inte alltid behöver vara ett problem. För att hantera språkskillnaderna användes bland annat teckenspråk, kroppsspråk, ögonkontakt samt beröring. Utförliga besöksplaner, kontaktmannaskap och kontinuitet användes som arbetsredskap för att förebygga missförstånd och underlätta kommunikationen. Det rådde olika meningar huruvida de äldre invandrarna var ensamma och isolerade. Personalen upplevde att de äldre upplevde språksvårigheterna som jobbiga, blev ledsna, arga och kände hopplöshet. Skapandet av goda relationer påverkades inte av språksvårigheterna ansåg fyra av sex intervjupersoner. Antaganden användes inte för att underlätta språksvårigheterna då de behandlade alla individuellt. Tillmötesgående, förtroendeingivande, sunt förnuft och vänlighet var ord som förknippades med positivt bemötande. / Research shows that language is important when it comes to healthcare. This study aims to investigate how caregivers in home care handle and understand language difficulties with older immigrants who don’t speak Swedish. To answer the question qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six health workers in home care. The result shows that language difficulties are common but not always need to be a problem. To deal with the different languages following were used; sign language, body language, eye contact and touch. Detailed visit plans, contact persons and continuity were used as tools to prevent misunderstandings and to facilitate communication. There was a difference of opinion whether the older immigrants were alone and isolated. The staff felt that the older experienced language difficulties hard, that they were sad, angry and felt hopelessness. Four interview persons thought that the establishment of good relations were not affected by language difficulties. Assumptions were not used to facilitate language difficulties since they treated everyone individually. Accommodating, trustworthy, good sense and kindness were words that were associated with positive reception.

Sveriges äldre befolkning har ökat under de senaste åren och förväntas fortsätta stiga, samtidigt växer trenden mot digitalisering inom äldreomsorgen för att kunna tackla den ökande belastningen inom sektorn. Digitala hjälpmedel anses kunna underlätta för personal inom äldreomsorgen och skapa en mer hållbar omsorg. Användarinvolvering i produktutvecklingsprocessen av sådana hjälpmedel kan bidra till att erhålla ett så gynnsamt och effektivt hjälpmedel som möjligt. Syftet med studien är att undersöka om, hur och i så fall när medarbetare involveras  iproduktutvecklingsprocessen av digitala hjälpmedel inom äldreomsorgen, samt vilka effekter involvering medför. Avsikten är även att analysera hur digitala hjälpmedel påverkar medarbetarna samt den omsorg som erbjuds. Grunden till studien utgörs av en teoretisk referensram, där kunskap inom produktutvecklingsprocesser, användarinvolvering, äldreomsorgens organisation och digitala hjälpmedel samlades in. Därefter genomfördes en kvalitativ studie baserad på semistrukturerade intervjuer med fem medverkande respondenter från fyra olika företag och organisationer. Identifiering av teman genomfördes med hjälp av intervjudatan, som står till grund för resultatet. En analys där resultatet jämfördes mot teorin utfördes, följd av en utvecklande diskussion av forskningsfrågorna. Slutligen drogs slutsatser utifrån analysen. En slutsats som dras är att användare involveras i produktutvecklingsprocessen av digitala hjälpmedel i äldreomsorgen i viss utsträckning. Användarinvolveringen sker på olika sätt i olika faser i produktutvecklingsprocessen. Studien visar även att användarinvolvering har en stor betydelse för en välanpassad produkt inom välfärdsteknik. En annan slutsats från studien är att det generellt ses stora fördelar med användandet av välfärdsteknik. Det har visat sig ha en positiv påverkan på personalens arbetssätt. När för mycket ny teknik införs på en gång eller om tekniken upplevs oanpassad för arbetsmiljön medför det negativa effekter på personalen. / Sweden's elderly population has increased in recent years and is expected to continue to rise. At the same time the trend towards digitalization in elderly care increases in order to cope with the increased work load within the sector. Digital aids are considered to be an asset for staff in elderly care and can create a more sustainable elderly care. User involvement in the product development process of such aids can contribute to obtaining the most favorable and efficient aid as possible. The purpose of the study is to investigate if, how and when co-workers are involved in the product development process of digital aids within the elderly care sector, as well as the effects involvement causes. The intention is also to analyze how digital aids affect the co-workers and the care offered. The basis of the study is a theoretical frame of reference where knowledge in product development processes, user involvement, the organization of home care for elderly and digital aids was gathered. Following up the theory, a qualitative study was carried out based on semi-structured interviews with five participating respondents from four different companies and organizations. With the help of interview data, an identification of themes was carried out and formed the basis for the reports results section. Thereafter, an analysis where the results were compared against the theory, was carried out followed by a discussion apropos the research questions. Finally, conclusions were drawn based on the analysis. A conclusion that is drawn is that users are involved in the product development process of digital aids in elderly care to some extent. User involvement takes place in different ways in different phases of the product development process. The study also shows that user involvement is of great importance for a well-adapted product in welfare technology. Another conclusion from the studies is that there are generally great advantages with the use of welfare technology. It has been shown to have a positive impact on the staff's way of working. When too much new technology is implemented at once or the new technology is perceived as unadapted, it can have a negative impact on the staff.