Care workers’ ambivalence towards family care partners: informal decision-making processes when older people consider relocation to a residential home

Abstract

The aim of this article is to reveal how care workers in the home-help service interpret the influence of family care partners when older people’s relocation to a residential home is considered. Based on interviews with 33 care workers, this article investigates how they use their discretion. The analysis shows that the care workers express ambivalence towards family care workers and that they informally influence decision-making processes despite prevailing care management systems. The conclusion drawn are that welfare ideas in transformation and diffuse areas of responsibility may not benefit either care workers, family care partners or a care receiver’s self-determination.