The desire for control: Negotiating the arrangement of help for older people in Sweden

Abstract

The interface between formal (public) and informal help for older people is unclear and subject to change in many welfare states. Our aim in this study was to contribute to increased understanding of the experiences of older people, their next of kin, and the care managers from the municipalities in the process of negotiating help in the everyday lives of older people who can no longer manage on their own. We took a qualitative approach, using qualitative interviews as the main data collection method. The results revealed that the different actors had contrary interests that made it difficult for all parties to be content with the outcome of the negotiations. The everyday lives of dependent older people and their next of kin are strongly affected by the conditions of formal eldercare.