Dependency and aged care in Spain: Tensions and contradictions in a society in transition

Abstract

Dependency and care assistance during old age has become an increasing focus of debate and change in society. Consequently, people must cope with diverse and even contradictory values and ideas about the issue. This study aimed to understand the social representations of dependency based on the dialogical approach of the Social Representations theory. Total 26 semi‐structured interviews were conducted in the Basque Country (north of Spain) with relatives, care workers, and older adult care recipients. The thematic analysis results show that social representations are articulated around seven themes, reflecting people's tensions and contradictions at cultural, organizational, and relational levels. In addition, the polyphasic and dynamic nature of social representations is discussed, addressing current public debates about the meaning of dependency in a changing sociocultural context.

‘Where do we come from and where are we going?’ A study about the transformation of knowledge related to long-term care

“…From a constructivist and dialogical approach, the analysis of polyphasic processes allows us to identify the ways in which people manage and discuss the different meanings about care, which fits with the theoretical basis of social representations that are constructed in dialogue (Marková, 2003;Jovchelovitch and Priego-Hernandez, 2015). This study adopts a new approach to the data obtained and analysed in a previous thematic analysis conducted and published by the authors, which examined the tensions and contradictions in the social representations of dependency in old age (Castelo et al, 2022). By elaborating seven themes, we showed the cultural and moral tensions that people experience in their everyday lives when dealing with dependency needs.…”

“…This study adopts a new approach to the data obtained and analysed in a previous thematic analysis conducted and published by the authors, which examined the tensions and contradictions in the social representations of dependency in old age (Castelo et al, 2022). By elaborating seven themes, we showed the cultural and moral tensions that people experience in their everyday lives when dealing with dependency needs.…”