What constitutes feeling safe at home? A qualitative interview study with frail older people receiving home care

Abstract

Abstract Aim To highlight experiences of what constitutes feeling safe at home among frail older people receiving home care. Design Qualitative descriptive study. Methods The sample consists of 12 individual recorded interviews with frail older people in their homes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The data collection was performed in spring 2018. Results The analysis resulted in three categories: “Having a feeling of ‘at‐homeness’” describes the older people's surrounding environment and their efforts to maintain independence; “being able to influence” describes the importance for older people to shape their care by being in control and having an opportunity for self‐determination in the context of home care; and “being able to trust staff” relates to expecting staff's knowledge and skills and to appreciating the staff's ability to create positive relations.

Keywords

• community care
• content analysis
• interviews
• older people
• quality and safety