Relatives\u27 care for people with dementia in their home environment

V diplomskem delu obravnavam skrb sorodnikov za ljudi z demenco v domačem okolju. V teoretičnem delu sem najprej predstavila demenco, njeno zgodovino, vrste ter stopnje napredovanja. Nadaljevala sem z opredelitvijo modelov razumevanja demence, kamor uvrščam biomedicinski, psihološki, sociološki ter socialnodelovni model. Nato sem opisovala oskrbo človeka z demenco ter predstavila tudi potrebe neformalnih oskrbovalcev. V zadnjem poglavju teoretičnega dela sem opredelila še socialno delo z ljudmi z demenco ter omenila pravice ljudi z demenco. Predstavim kvalitativno raziskavo, katere glavni cilj je bil raziskati, s kakšnimi težavami se soočajo neformalni oskrbovalci v domačem okolju, torej raziskati težave, ki se pojavljajo na različnih ravneh socialnodelovnega modela razumevanja demence, tako na ravni medsebojnih odnosov, ekonomski in etični kot tudi izvedbeni ravni. Raziskovala sem, kako demenca vpliva na življenjski potek celotne družine in potek skrbi na splošno, pozornost sem namenila tudi čustvom, ki so ob skrbi prisotna. Zanimalo me je, pri katerih opravilih družinski oskrbovalci pomagajo človeku z demenco ter kdo jim pomaga in jih oskrbi s potrebnimi informacijami. Preverila sem tudi morebitno povezavo med stopnjo izobrazbe in stopnjo ozaveščenosti oziroma informiranostipri slednjem sem se osredotočila predvsem na vlogo socialnih delavcev. Ugotovitve raziskave so, da demenca močno vpliva na vsakdanjik celotne družine, zlasti pa na potrebe neformalnih oskrbovalcev, saj se soočajo s številnimi izzivi in obremenitvami. Oskrba človeka z demenco predstavlja veliko fizično in psihično obremenitev. Družine se soočajo z veliko spremembami tako v medsebojnih odnosih kot tudi pri poteku njihovega vsakdanjika, vsakodnevnih opravilih ter aktivnostih. Oskrba sproža veliko čustev, med njimi prevladujejo negativna. Formalno oskrbo opredeljujejo kot težko dostopno oziroma nedostopno, pri čemer so eden glavnih vzrokov finance, drugi pa nedostopnost teh oblik pomoči ob koncu tedna in praznikih. Ugotovila sem, da vsi v Občini Kamnik poznajo vsaj dve obliki formalne pomoči, vendar je vseeno informiranost o ostalih možnostih šibka, ravno tako pa se pojavlja nezadovoljstvo z informiranostjo nasploh. Odkrila sem tudi nepoznavanje vlog socialnih delavcev, kar bi bilo potrebno spremeniti z raznimi delavnicami in večjo mero ozaveščanja s strani centrov za socialno delo.Because of the fact that dementia is more and more common disease among the older people and because the awareness, that dementia affects life course of the whole family, needs to be risen, I have decided in my graduation thesis to discuss care for people with dementia in their home environment in my municipality. The theoretical part of my thesis consists of presentation of dementia, its history, types and stages, which are followed by description of models of understanding dementia, where biomedical, psychological, sociological and social work model have been placed. It is followed by the discussion about needs of caregivers and definition of social work with people with dementia, where are also mentioned rights of people with dementia. In the following chapter, methodology and my research are described, namely I have used qualitative research, which main aim was to explore the problems that caregivers face on different areas of social work model of understanding dementia, and furthermore I have also wanted to find out how dementia affects life course of whole family and the course of care in general. The attention has also been paid to the relationships between caregivers and people with dementia and to present emotions, besides the aim of my research has also been to get to know who provides caregivers with help and support, as well as who gives them necessary information. At the same time the aim of my research was to check on possible connection between education level and level of awareness, where I have focused mainly on role of social workers. The research showed that dementia strongly affects life of the whole family, furthermore it also presents several challenges and strains. Caregivers confront with loads of emotions, unfortunately usually prevail negative ones. The finding that formal care is considered as unavailable, mostly due to low income or occupancy is also significant. Informal caregivers are also often dissatisfied with amount of information that are available, in addition they are often not even familiar with social work roles when it comes to dementia, which should be changed with the help of different workshops and by rising awareness about our mission

Characteristics and changes in social networks of elderly during the Corona virus period

V magistrskem delu obravnavam in raziskujem značilnosti ter spremembe v socialnih omrežjih starih ljudi v obdobju koronavirusa. Starost in staranje sta socialna konstrukta, o katerih imamo ljudje obilo tako pozitivnih kot tudi negativnih, kontradiktornih, dvoumnih in mešanih predstav. Zaradi podaljševanja pričakovane življenjske dobe pa počasi prihajata v ospredje raziskovanih tem ter področij. Hkrati se v Sloveniji kljub temu, da je za nas značilna močna institucionalna naravnanost, srečujemo z vse pogostejšimi željami po preživljanju tretjega življenjskega obdobja v domačem okolju, v krogu svojih najbližjih družinskih članov. Obdobje starosti je že samo po sebi polno izzivov, prilagajanj in učenja novih strategij, s katerimi se ljudje različno soočamo, v zadnjem letu pa nam dodatne izzive prinaša še epidemija koronavirusa. Nova realnost, ki jo kroji koronavirus, je v življenja starih ljudi prinesla dodatne spremembe in dodala številne druge izzive, ki so vidni predvsem na področju socialnega življenja in socialnih stikov, vendar so se z njimi primorani spopasti na svojevrstne in najrazličnejše načine. V prvem delu najprej predstavim teoretični okvir, opredelim starost in staranje, socialna omrežja, socialno oporo, pomen družine za starega človeka, vpetost starih ljudi v medsosedske odnose ter skupnostno socialno delo. Nadaljujem z opredelitvijo metodologije in raziskave, ki je kvalitativna in empirična, v njej pa sem z namenom, da bi čim bolje lahko definirala spremembe in vplive, ki jih je epidemija vnesla v življenja starih ljudi, intervjuvala 8 žensk, različnih starosti, izobrazb in različnih družbenih položajev. Najprej sem se osredotočila na raziskovanje njihovega socialnega življenja in socialnih mrež pred samim pojavom virusa. Raziskala sem pomen, ki ga intervjuvanke pripisujejo socialnim interakcijam na splošno, družinske odnose, medsosedsko povezanost ter se nato usmerila še v raziskovanje vplivov in posledičnih sprememb, ki so jih sogovornice deležne v njihovem vsakdanjiku. Raziskala sem tudi načine soočanja s trenutno situacijo in ugotovila, da največji del njihovih socialnih omrežij predstavljajo prav družinski člani, v nekaj primerih so intervjuvane omenjale tudi prijatelje, vendar pa večinoma socialna omrežja nimajo več kot 10 alterjev. Glede pomoči in opore se prav tako najpogosteje zanašajo na ožje družinske člane. Velika večina sogovornic največ sprememb izpostavlja na področju omejevanja druženj, kar posledično vzbuja občutke osamljenosti in zaprtosti v lasten dom.Age and ageing are social constructs which are bringing enormous amounts of positive and contradictive associations, but at the same time are becoming one of the leading exploratory themes. Despite that Slovenia is known by its strong institutional attitude, we commonly came across an wishes of elderly to stay in their home environment as long as possible, surrounded by their loved ones. At the beginning of my Master\u27s thesis you can find theoretical part which consists of different significant themes. First I present age and aging, which is as a matter of course, the period filled with different challenges and numerous adjustments that are tackled by people differently. Furthermore I continue with the chapter named Family and elderly people, where I expose the importance of family relations. The chapter is followed by explanation of social networks, social support, neighbourhood networks, community social work and finally the chapter about the Corona virus influence. In previous year we have been obliged to cope with Corona virus epidemic. The new reality has brought additional changes, which are most apparent in the social life area. In the following chapter, methodology and my research are described, namely I have used qualitative research, which’s main aim was to explore and compare the meaning and characteristics of social networks of elderly in the period of Corona virus. Firstly I have focused on the exploring of so-speakers social life and their social networks before the epidemic. I have explored the meaning of social interactions, neighbourhood networks, social support and the changes in their everyday life which appeared simultaneously with Covid-19. Secondly I have explored ways of coping with measures. The research showed that the major part of social networks of my co-speakers is consisted of family members , which are also the ones most frequently provide help and support. It was also stressed that major changes and challenges are seen in the area of socialising, which brings feelings of loneliness