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Case studies

Using strengths-based practice to support culture change: an Australian experience

Workplaces across the globe have experienced an unprecedented pace of change. The effects of a problem focus, de-personalisation and over regulation in long-term care settings are experienced similarly by carers, residents, their families and nursing homes as a whole. A pathology focus is no longer appropriate, inviting a paradigm shift to explore how accessing the unique strengths and resources of all parties becomes an imperative role in changing organizational culture. This paper draws comparisons between the experiences and tasks of all those involved in care settings.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:15

A strengths perspective in working with people with Alzheimer’s disease

This article presents a case study contrasting the disease orientation and strengths perspective, and describing how strengths perspectives can be used to utilize the assets and strengths that each person with dementia retains in order to improve both the quality of care and the quality of life for the person with demetia and his or her family carers.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:14

Money matters: a system fraught with glaring inequality

In the second of two articles, Barbara Pointon analyses the chaos of funding and benefits that rarely seem to help the people they are intended for, and asks again, ‘Whose service is it?’

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:14

Social work education case study: Anglia Ruskin University

Service users, carers and academics describe participation in the social work degree at Anglia Ruskin University. It looks at the different ways that users and carers are involved in the course, the importance of the university providing appropriate training and support, the benefits students get from contact with users and carers and what users and carers gain from the experience. The film will be of interest to social work educators, social work students, service users and carers.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:13

How do we facilitate carers' involvement in decision making?

Background. Government health care policy urges service providers to involve service users in the decision-making process. Research studies have recommended changes to current health care practice to facilitate this involvement. However, carers’ organizations continue to highlight a gap between policy and practice in relation to involvement.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:13

Social work education case study: Leeds University

Service users, carers and academics describe participation in the social work degree at Leeds University. It looks at the different ways that users and carers are involved in the course, including teaching, role-playing activities, marking students' work and the selection process for students applying to on the course. It also looks at the importance of the university providing appropriate training and support, the benefits students get from contact with users and carers and what users and carers gain from the experience.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:13

‘You have to be mindful of whose story it is’: the challenges of undertaking life story work with people with dementia and their family carers

Introduction: Life story work is increasingly being used with people with dementia; this work offers a critical appraisal of some challenges that may be faced in practice.

Design and methods: An in-depth case study analysis was undertaken to understand the experiences of people with dementia, family carers and care staff in using life story work in an NHS Mental Health and Social Care Trust. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, observation, conversations and field notes.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:13

Specialist nurses for older people: implications from UK development sites

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to explore the development of specialist staffing for older people in six case study sites in the United Kingdom.

Background.  In the United Kingdom there has been some concern about the health care available to older people, leading to the development of a National Service Framework. A key theme of this framework is the development of specialist staff skilled in providing services tailored to the needs of older people.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:13

Caring women, shrewd strategies: the organizational dynamics of home health care

The AIDS epidemic is a driving force in the external policy environment, stimulating large-scale changes in health care organizations. Visiting Nurse Associations (VNAs), gendered organizations with a hundred year tradition of caring work in communities, responded to governmental initiatives with structural and functional changes. A case study of the development of the AIDS Care Program of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) offers a unique opportunity to explore the exercise of strategy as health policy is translated into organizational practice.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:12

Use of home telehealth in palliative cancer care: a case study

We conducted a mixed-methods case study to explore the perceptions of family caregivers and palliative cancer patients of home telehealth, and their experience with it. The intervention in the randomized controlled trial from which study participants were selected consisted of specialist nurses available 24 hours per day who communicated with patients and families using videophones, with optional remote monitoring. Qualitative data were collected from interviews with five patient/caregiver dyads and seven bereaved family caregivers, direct observation and nursing documentation.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:12