Vem tar ansvar för Kim - 84 år med ett aktivt alkoholmissbruk? En kvalitativ studie om biståndshandläggares upplevelser av arbetet med äldre individer med alkoholmissbruk.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the perceived conditions and experiences aid workers had of investigating needs and assessing interventions for the elderly (65+) with active alcohol abuse, as well as what their experiences of cooperation with other activities looked like. The experience in this qualitative study consisted of seven semi-structured interviews with aid officers from two municipalities in Västra Götaland municipality. In order to answer the purpose and questions of the study, the interviews were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). The collected empirical data was further analyzed using organizational theories and concepts, such as grassroots bureaucracy, room for action and collaboration. From the collected material, a view of the elderly emerged, to which stigma, disengagement theory, gender role theory and gender system were also applied. The result showed that aid workers had a good will to help individuals within the target group. However, we came to the conclusion that several factors meant difficulties in the assistance process. Dilemmas around room for action, guidelines and self-determination were some factors. A societal view of the elderly as homogenous and a lack of collaboration with the substance abuse unit were others.