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Tove Harnett. Foto: Sanna Dolck Wall

Tove Harnett

Associate professor, PhD Gerontology

Tove Harnett. Foto: Sanna Dolck Wall

That's not my Robert! Identity maintainance and other warrants in family members' claims about mistreatment in old-age care

Author

  • Tove Harnett
  • Håkan Jönson

Summary, in English

This study has explored how family members of care recipients define and sustain claims of mistreatment in old-age care. Twenty-one informants were recruited from an association of relatives of care recipients in Sweden. Using argumentation analysis, four warrants about mistreatment Were identified from the qualitative interview data: they referred to physical harm, psychological harm, social-care deficiencies and identity subversion. The first three categories are similar to those recognised in previous research on elder mistreatment, but the fourth, which is described in detail in the article, is less familiar: elder mistreatment as the violation of an older person's identity. The family members backed their claims about staff members' violation of a care recipient's persona or identity by using arguments that drew on their unique knowledge of the care recipient's appearance, daily routines and preferred activities. they also described their attempts to protect the dignity and identity of a care recipient, their fears of abuse, and actual cases of conflict and retribution by care staff. They consistently positioned themselves as guardians of identity through their claims of mistreatment. The study provides important knowledge about family members' moral view of elder mistreatment, which may enhance the understanding of conflicts between formal care providers and family members.

Department/s

  • Ageing and Eldercare
  • School of Social Work

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

627-647

Publication/Series

Ageing & Society

Volume

30

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Topic

  • Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences

Keywords

  • relatives
  • warrants
  • person-centred care
  • mistreatment
  • family members
  • elder care
  • elder abuse
  • claims-making

Status

Published

Research group

  • Kriminal- och socialvetenskapligt nätverk

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0144-686X