Exploring Resilience in UK-Based Domiciliary Care Workers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Participants and Recruitment
2.2. Data Collection
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Qualitative Findings
3.2. THEME 1: Healthy Boundaries
There are times, don’t get me wrong, where I do take it home with me. But I have to respect that when I’m at home it’s home life. It does have an impact on it, there’s no two ways about it, but you need to find that line.Ann, pre-COVID, DC for 30 years
When you’re at work you switch off everything from home, when you’re at home you switch off everything from work.Jasmine, pre-COVID, DC for seven years
Allowing yourself to have time to do things, to do the things you enjoy the most… Because you need a balance to work in care. You cannot take too much on your shoulders or you’d be making yourself ill.Craig, during COVID, DC for six years
I was going home and thinking ‘ah that person from there…’ and I was saying to my husband, I don’t know whether I can do this job, and it was like that but then now over the years… I go into my house and that’s it.Anouska, pre-COVID, DC for 1.5 years
At first when I started I used to think have I done that right did I sign that… now it’s a lot easier to go home and be like, ‘oh, that’s today done’. But I think once you’ve mastered leaving it all at the door you can go home.Vicky, pre-COVID, DC for four years
3.3. THEME 2: Motivation to Care
Luckily my hours are flexible and I am really lucky to be able to work around my two boys.Angela, pre-COVID, DC for eight years
I’ve learnt the most about dementia from my own personal experiences.Daisy, pre-COVID, DC for ten years
Well I looked after my Grandad for quite some time, and his care company needed staff so that’s what got me into caring.Marie, pre-COVID, DC for 24 years
I did used to think it was wiping a*ses! Like you’ve got no qualifications, nothing… but you do come away smiling 90% of the time.Eileen, pre-COVID, DC for four years
Yes, definitely it is rewarding. If you see your clients happy, healthy, that’s the main thing.Noreena, pre-COVID, DC for four years
Although some days you might be feeling sad, stressed or emotional, you will also feel so good and so rewarded for what you do.Lisa, during COVID, DC for 12 years
It proves how much it means and how much (job pride) can lead your life and job and make it easier dealing with the stress and stuff in this work setting.James, during COVID, DC for 1.5 years
I think working in care and seeing how people react it’s one of the few times in my life when I can actually turn round and say ‘I’m really proud of what I do and how I do it’.James, during COVID, DC for 1.5 years
I like helping people… going into somebody’s house and coming out knowing that you have made a difference to their day.Daisy, pre-COVID, DC for ten years
Dementia can be upsetting… so knowing you can calm them down, help them, make them feel more comfortable is brilliant, extremely rewarding.James, during COVID, DC for 1.5 years
She began to accept me… I could do a bit more for her, she could… I wouldn’t say remember exactly who I was… but she knew I would be there for her.Noreena, pre-COVID, DC for four years
We’re able to support the families and give them a bit of rest, and they can give us extra insight into who the person was before dementia.Angela, pre-COVID, DC for eight years
3.4. THEME 3: Psychological Attributes
You have to be strong… when someone is relying on you.Louise, pre-COVID, DC for six years
I think you just get on with it. It’s another day isn’t it so you just do your best!Florence, pre-COVID, DC for two years
You’ve still got to be that bubbly person even though you’re thinking ‘this person has not got long to live and I will miss them’.Louise, pre-COVID, DC for six years
It’s very hard… but it’s just the circle of life I guess, and you just have to take it like it is, somehow.Noreena, pre-COVID, DC for four years
I use humour quite a lot, like, in situations that I find uncomfortable for example. That helps me so much.Lisa, during COVID, DC for 12 years
You get to appreciate life more and be more thankful for what you’ve got, and that you and your loved ones are healthy… it’s a very difficult job, but it has helped me grow so much as a person.Lisa, during COVID, DC for 12 years
3.5. THEME 4: Managing Work
Because I’ve done it for so long… I’ve been up against every kind of challenging behaviour or problem you can come across.Jasmine, pre-COVID, DC for seven years
I think the job itself becomes easier with time, because you become stronger and things don’t affect you that much… I think it’s just part of the process really, you just have to adapt and learn how to deal with your own feelings.Lisa, during COVID, DC for 12 years
It (the pandemic) has helped me grow in terms of like… I’ve learnt a lot, I’m more aware. I’m more knowledgeable on not just cornoavirus but things that look like coronavirus but it’s not… like the flu or a cold.James, during COVID, DC for 1.5 years
I have no idea what the tablets do! I just know she needs to take them, so I say ‘well this one could make you beautiful!’Louise, pre-COVID, DC for six years
Leaving everything as their own home, but unplugging the cooker… and putting medicines in a locked box.Marie, pre-COVID, DC for 24 years
It was important that clients felt that DCs cared for them as well as actually provide care.Louise, pre-COVID, DC for six years
If they’ve always worn a suit, let them wear a suit.Louise, pre-COVID, DC for six years
3.6. THEME 5: Support
(Family) gives you strength to do what you do.Noreena, pre-COVID, DC for four years
Daughters yeah… well sometimes you’ve got to talk about it, you know, like what’s happened and if you done something nice for someone and the look on their faces, it is good.Zinnia, pre-COVID, DC for six months
I was getting home from my shift and finding out he (husband) had cooked my tea and set up the table with candles… he really wanted me to come from work and have absolutely nothing to do, and I can’t be grateful enough for that.Lisa, during COVID, DC for 12 years
I’ve got a couple of friends… we’ve been friends a lot of years so we get together and have a little chat, and I know I can pick the phone up to any one of those so it is good. I think it helps having a friend or a number of friends.Ann, pre-COVID, DC for 30 years
I have lots of friends online because I play online games, so I was still able to socialise with them and talk to them, and that felt great, it felt normal… it’s good to just talk.Craig, during COVID, DC for six years
If you’re friends with them (co-workers) then you’ve got support, because 90% of the time they’re going through the same thing you are.Eileen, pre-COVID, DC for four years
I’ve also got a good set of friends that work with me and we meet outside of work to go for coffee… because if we didn’t meet up for a coffee once a week and get it off your chest, you’ll be banging your head making yourself ill.Nastasya, during COVID, DC for eight years
We’ve always been there for each other, not only as friends but as colleagues… and that helps. Having a supportive work environment does help a lot, because you know they’ve got your back.Lisa, during COVID, DC for 12 years
We did like game nights and stuff like that through Zoom. So that helped, because you still feel connected to them even though everyone is at home.Craig, during COVID, DC for six years
If there’s any issues with anything (manager) is here you know. She’ll always talk to us about any issues that we have got. But yeah, the support is always there. I’ve never felt like there hasn’t been any support.Grace, pre-COVID, DC for 15 years
I guess I’m just lucky to have them (employers). Because it does make a difference, you know. Knowing they are there if you need them, even like… you might never need them. But if you do, just knowing they are there helps.James, during COVID, DC for 1.5 years
It helps when obviously you’re getting up to date erm like training courses and things like that erm to do like with dementia care or anything really. Just so you know what you’re expecting.Florence, pre-COVID, DC for two years
I think the regular training is excellent, and I do think you need it… I’m just grateful that it’s there to keep you going because otherwise you’d be left behind.Ann, pre-COVID, DC for 30 years
They’re helpful in every way, they give you counselling or whatever you need… they’re always at the end of the phone.Marie, pre-COVID, DC for 24 years
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Donnellan, W.J.; Hirons, A.; Clarke, K.; Muinos, C.; McCabe, L. Exploring Resilience in UK-Based Domiciliary Care Workers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 16128. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316128
Donnellan WJ, Hirons A, Clarke K, Muinos C, McCabe L. Exploring Resilience in UK-Based Domiciliary Care Workers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(23):16128. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316128
Chicago/Turabian StyleDonnellan, Warren James, Annalise Hirons, Katie Clarke, Christian Muinos, and Laura McCabe. 2022. "Exploring Resilience in UK-Based Domiciliary Care Workers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 23: 16128. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316128