Hoe thuiszorgmedewerkers goede zorg kunnen bieden die aansluit bij zingeving van ouderen

In the course of their daily work, home care workers come into contact with elderly people's questions of meaning, but do not always know how to deal with them properly. Susan Hupkens studied how spiritual carers can be used as coaches to make care givers more sensitive to these types of questions and help them deal with them. This resulted in the thesis 'At home with meaning'. She also developed teaching materials that you can download.

Interviews with older people
Almost all the elderly people interviewed experienced meaning in life and had many different sources providing this meaning. Although their circumstances become increasingly difficult, older people do a lot to maintain meaning in life, although this takes great effort on the part of some. The elderly people interviewed did not expect care workers to pay attention to their meaning. Yet they all managed to mention situations where care workers addressed their need for meaning and this was of great value to them. Indeed, this attuned care gives a sense of pleasure, safety, recognition and appreciation. Moreover, it increases the possibility for older people to shape their own good day. "I collect more of these quality moments with people and this is important for both: the elderly get the care they deserve and I have satisfaction because I can give meaning to my work."

Workbook and materials
The education by spiritual carers to care professionals consisted of six different components, including team sessions and coaching on the job. Evaluation with care professionals showed that it contributed to better person-centred care, to care workers' enjoyment of their work and also to their personal growth. In the PhD project, a method for coaching care workers in this area was developed and the underlying learning-teaching process was visualised.