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Providing person-centred care to older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of direct support workers
Thalen,Marloes van Oorsouw,Wietske M. W. J. Volkers,Karin M. Frielink,Noud Embregts,Petri J. C. M.
Thalen,Marloes
van Oorsouw,Wietske M. W. J.
Volkers,Karin M.
Frielink,Noud
Embregts,Petri J. C. M.
Abstract
Background: Although the current preventive measures relating to COVID-19 can lead to challenges in the daily work of direct support workers (e.g. keeping 1.5 m distance), it remains vital to uphold the principles of person-centred care when working with older people with intellectual disabilities. The current study explores the extent to which direct support workers have been able to apply a specific form of person-centred care (i.e. integrated emotion-oriented care, or IEOC) when working with older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Six direct support workers from five facilities serving older people with intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands participated in this qualitative study. They participated in a two-hour focus group, which was transcribed verbatim, and the transcript was analysed thematically. Results: Three themes emerged: (i) the negative impact of changes due to the COVID-19 measures on service users; (ii) the adaptation of direct support workers to changes due to the COVID-19 measures; and (iii) putting the needs and wishes of service users first. Conclusion: This study provides first impressions into the experiences of direct support workers providing person-centred care to older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Description
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
Person-centred care, integrated emotion-oriented care, COVID-19, coronavirus, older people with intellectual disabilities, direct support workers, SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Citation
Thalen, M, van Oorsouw, W M W J, Volkers, K M, Frielink, N & Embregts, P J C M 2023, 'Providing person-centred care to older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic : Experiences of direct support workers', International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, vol. 69, no. 5, pp. 775-781. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2021.2019921