The carers in home care services need competence to identify and meet the needs of care partners. The implementation of person-centred values in home care services can contribute to meet the needs of care partners to a greater extent than today. Future research on the needs of care partners of older people with mental health problems needs to be undertaken.

BackgroundIn Norway, as in other European countries, the ageing population is increasing rapidly. Governments seek to enable older people stay in their homes for as long as possible, and welfare technology (WT) has been proposed as a possible solution. Human behaviour modelling (HBM) is a welfare technology that identifies an individual’s behaviour patterns and detects abnormal behaviours, including falls and early signs of dementia. However, the successful development of HBM WT requires the consideration of the older people’s attitudes on this.AimThe present study sought to explore attitudes and perspectives about welfare technology among older people living alone in Norway.MethodsWe used an exploratory, qualitative approach in which semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with five women and four men between the ages of 79 and 91. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsTwo categories and four subcategories were identified: 1) preferences and concerns of welfare technology (i) feeling confident-proactive approach of future technology, (ii) concerns and dilemmas, and 2) reflections of today and tomorrow- awareness of own health (i) feeling healthy, independent, self-sufficient and safe, (ii) facing own ageing- preparedness on unpredictable scenarios. The main theme, welfare technology - a valuable addition to tomorrow’s homes, represents how the participants held positive and proactive attitudes towards the use of WT in their homes.ConclusionParticipants trusted the Norwegian healthcare system and did not rely on their families for care. Independence, autonomy, and feeling safe were essential for all participants, and most participants regarded welfare technology as empowering them to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Participants already confidently used various technologies in their daily lives. Surprisingly, they expressed no concerns about privacy, but some mention concerns about loss of autonomy and dignity. We conclude that a person-centred approach to integrating new WT is necessary.

Objectives To explore the lived experiences and support needs of the care partners of older people with mental health problems living at home with assistance from home care services. Care partners face significant challenges in their care role and they often feel unsupported. An understanding of their experiences may help improve home care to support their needs. Method An exploratory qualitative approach was used. The study is based on the SRQR and COREQ reporting guidelines. In‐depth interviews were conducted with six Norwegian care partners from two municipalities. Data were collected during 2012–2013 and 2016. The data were analysed using Gadamer's hermeneutics. Results Three themes were identified: “invisible cornerstones,” “dimensions of collaboration” and “unwanted roles.” Conclusion Few or no routines for collaboration exist between care partners and home care, and the care partners seem to have little knowledge of legal rights. They request more information, spare time and the opportunity to remain in their original family role. However, their main focus is for the patient to receive the necessary help from home care. Home care have restricted resources for meeting these needs and share a sense of powerlessness and lack of influence over their own everyday life with the care partners. There is a need for a systematic, person‐centred approach to collaboration. A correlation is necessary between what is communicated at the system level and the means of realising this in practice for home care to meet care partners' needs.

Background Collaboration with care partners is a political aim in recent white papers in Norway and internationally. Home care services regularly work closely with care partners, but there are many indications that the collaboration does not work satisfactorily. Aim To explore home care staff and leaders’ experiences of collaborating with care partners of older people with mental health problems through a personhood perspective. Methods The study had a qualitative design and comprised eight health professionals in two focus groups and in‐depth interviews with three leaders in one home care district. The data were analysed using a thematic framework analysis building on previous research on personhood. criteria for reporting qualitative reporting guidelines were used to ensure comprehensive reporting. Results Four themes were identified in the analysis: ‘non‐negotiated relationships’, ‘contradictory agendas’, ‘weak paternalism’ and ‘moral compromise’. Conclusion There seems to be a lack of facilitation of collaborative relationships through all levels of the home care organisation. The interactions between care partners and home care staff sometimes appear to produce low or negative levels of emotional energy, and situations where the personhood of neither of them is respected occurs. Paying attention to the four modes of being as a framework for understanding personhood creates the foundation for a person‐centred approach that enhances the potential of creating stronger partnership in care relationships.

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Aim To explore informal caregivers’ experiences and perspectives concerning assistive technology (AT) in two nursing homes, through the conceptual lens of person-centredness. Background The integration and use of AT and a person-centred approach to care are political intentions within healthcare services, both internationally and in Norway. In nursing homes, informal caregivers are often collaborators with the staff, and can be important partners concerning the implementation of AT in a person-centred way. However, there is little knowledge about the informal caregivers’ perspectives on the use of AT in nursing homes, or of whether or how they are included in the integration and use of AT. Methods The study had a qualitative design and comprised eleven informal caregivers of residents in two nursing homes in Norway. In-depth interviews were used for data collection. The data were analysed using content analysis. COREQ reporting guidelines were applied to ensure comprehensive reporting. Results Emerging themes highlighted the slow-going transition from old to new technology, and how the informal caregivers experienced that AT both promoted and degraded the dignity of their family members. Informal caregivers were positive to the use of technology, but have sparse knowledge and information about ATs in the nursing homes. They express a desire for AT to increase activity and safety, which promotes dignity, quality of life, and quality of the care for their family member. The informal caregivers want their family member to be seen, heard, and to get assistance on their own terms, even with regard to technology. Conclusion Before AT can be implemented, informal caregivers need to be informed and listened to and included in the processes. Through their stories, one can form an idea of how important a person-centred approach is to contributing to individually tailored and introduced AT in collaboration with the informal caregivers.

Objective: The overall objective is to explore how the implementation of person-centred practice and use of technology affects patients’ and relatives’ perceptions of care quality and healthcare personnel’s job satisfaction, as well as shed light on nursing students’ experiences when performing person-centred interventions. In this paper, the interventions used to assure implementation of person-centredness and use of technology in relation to patients are described to facilitate an increased understanding of the study’s future results. Results: A person-centred practice framework was introduced and facilitated in three phases. These included: 1) Establishing a project group consisting of ward leaders and researchers. Workshops and meetings were held with the healthcare personnel to inform and discuss the concept of person-centred practice, use of technology and the interventions: “one-to-one-contact”, collection of life stories, advanced care planning, and point prevalence of wounds, including pressure ulcers, incontinence associated dermatitis and developing a skin care bundle. 2) A twelve months’ intervention period including facilitated innovation groups for personnel and leaders and conducting the four interventions. 3) Discussion of results with personnel. Inhibitors and promoters for the continuation of interventions will be highlighted. Strategies will ensure the further development of person-centred practice and use of technology in nursing homes.