Encountering staff in the home: Three older adults' experience during six months of home-based rehabilitation

Purpose. The purpose of the present study was to explore and describe how older adults who received home-based rehabilitation perceived the staff during a period of 6 months when they received rehabilitation. Specifically, the study focused on how the participants collaborated with and made use of the services from the staff. Method. In this case-oriented study, three older adults were interviewed continuously during the 6-month period they received home-based rehabilitation. The interviews were analysed continuously using a grounded theory approach. Results. Five different modes of perceiving the staff were identified among the participants: as small talk persons, as discussions partners, as instructors and advisors, as teachers and as persons who carry out tasks efficiently. The three conditions that most came to influence the way the participants perceived collaborated with the staff were as follows: 'experience and encounters with the staff', 'expectations for the future daily life', and 'the participants' needs and tasks related to their disability'. Conclusions. To achieve collaboration and user involvement, the staffs have to encounter each client differently in accordance with the various tasks that must be carried out during rehabilitation. Our findings indicate that this is particularly important for older adults during home-based rehabilitation, since older adults often have changing needs because of comorbidity.