Attendants’ experience with the Personalized citizen assistance for social participation (APIC)

Abstract

Background To promote healthy aging, the social participation needs of older adults must be better met. Previous studies have shown the benefits of the Personalized citizen assistance for social participation (APIC), but few explored its influence on attendants. This study explored the assistance experience of attendants when providing the APIC to older adults with disabilities. Methods A qualitative design inspired by a phenomenological approach was used with six female attendants who participated in individual interviews. Results The APIC attendants felt useful, developed meaningful relationships with their older adults, and improved their self-knowledge. Attendants had the opportunity to reflect on their lives and self-aging. They contributed to older adults’ functional independence, motivation, and participation in social activities. Attendants encountered challenges related to withdrawn behavior in older adults, such as refusing to participate in activities. Conclusions Considering the identified benefits of the APIC for attendants, further studies should explore personalized assistance to preserve older adults’ health.