Authors

Andreu Bover Bover, Denise Gastaldo2

Position

Doctor en Ciencias de la Educación. Diplomado en Enfermería, Doctora en Sociología. Licenciada en Enfermería²

Contact address

Universitat de les Illes Balears. Carretera de Valldemossa km 7,5. 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears (España).

Contact email: andreu.bover@uib.es

Abstract

Informal care and basic resources for the maintenance and recovery of health is in a critical situation in Spain. Sociodemographic and epidemiological changes that have taken place in the last decades require new sociosanitary policies, institutional programmes, and professional practices that respond to these emerging needs. This paper explores how home caregivers, of different generations and both genders, assess the performance and support of sociosanitary workers in their task of caring for dependent individuals. The study was based on the critical social paradigm and in particular, on the post-feminist theory. Qualitative methodology developed in the island of Mallorca (Spain) was used. Participants were male and female home caregivers from three-different generations, who were looking after a close family member and who resided in an urban area. Individual interviews and discussion groups were held. Results suggest that participants do not acknowledge sociosanitary workers as a support resource. Caregivers detect inadequate understanding on the dependent patients and a lack of skills in the integral therapeutic relationship. The gender and generation of the participants modulate these perceptions and consequent expectations. The answer given by sociosanitary institutions does not appear to protect these group of workers, allowing the reproduction of dominant speeches on the sexual division of domestic chores, the naturality and gratuity of female work and the proper and greater responsibility of the family in the care of its dependent members.

Versión en Español

Título:

Valoración y expectativas de las personas ciudadoras sobre los profesionales sociosanitarios.