Med eller utan språk. Vårdares uppfattningar om kommunikation med äldre

Abstract

Previous research suggests that care work is increasingly about communication. Care workers write, speak and mediate as they plan, perform and follow up on their work. Studies on language development in the workplace have been carried out, but little attention has been paid to the conceptions of care workers on communication with older people. In this article, therefore, I focus on language and communication on the basis of empirical material consisting of interviews with eight care workers who work with the elderly. My research questions are: 1) What do language and communication mean in care work with older people? and 2) How important is verbal language in care work with older people? The results show that language and communication consist of encounters and the ability to see the individual. It is also important to respect the other person's wishes, whether it is small talk and silence or touch and distance. Verbal language is primary, but not only used for the exchange of information. Language has an important social function which becomes apparent in the context of different activities. Although the focus is on activities, the activities invite communication using language as a starting point. All in all, the conceptions of the care workers seem to be in accordance with person-centered communication advocated by nursing professionals.

Keywords

• kommunikation i äldreomsorgen
• personcentrerad kommunikation
• uppfattningar