Factors Inhibiting and Promoting Employment in Long-Term Care in Slovenia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55707/jhs.v10i1.140Keywords:
long-term care, health care, employment, education, social careAbstract
The staffing challenges in the long -term care (LTC) sector in Slovenia are very high. The aim of the study was therefore to identify the main factors hindering and promoting employment in LTC and the measures needed to attract new workers and maintain staff satisfaction. The sample included students, the unemployed, employees and former employees of various Slovenian LTC institutes (N = 49). We used a qualitative approach with focus groups conducted in November and December 2022 and January 2023. The results showed that the biggest inhibiting factors are outdated staffing norms, low wages, rigid and multi-shift work, and physical and mental stress for staff. An important incentive factor is a permanent job with a fixed salary. The skills shortage in the LTC field requires immediate societal attention and action, such as setting appropriate staffing norms; introducing competitive wages and benefits/bonuses; greater autonomy for staff; opportunities for continuing education (payment of tuition
fees); training and professional development; technological
support; stress management programmes and counselling programmes to prevent occupational accidents and burnout; promoting a positive culture in the workplace; and active promotion to raise the profile of professions in LTC.
References
Aloisio, L. D., Coughlin, M. in Squires, J. E. (2021). Individual and Organizational Factors of Nurses’ Job Satisfaction in Long-Term Care: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 123, 104073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104073
American Health Care Association. (2020). The Long-Term and Post-Acute Care Workforce: Challenges and Solutions. Dostopno na: https://www.ahcancal.org/research_data/research/ltcworkforce (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
Backhaus, R., Jochem, I., Reijnders - Paffen, H. idr. (2021). How to Position, Attract and Retain Registered Nurses in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative, Explorative Study. Journal of Long-Term Care, 192–200. https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.80
Blindheim, K., Solberg, M., Hameed, I. A. idr. (2023). Promoting Activity in Long-Term Care Facilities With the Social Robot Pepper: a Pilot Study. Informatics for Health & Social Care, 48(2), 181–195. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu076
Butler, S. S., Brennan - Ing, M., Wardamasky, S. idr. (2015). Determinants of Job Satisfaction and Turnover among Home Health Aides: Identifying the Unique Needs of a Growing Demographic. The Gerontologist, 55(4), 584–595. https://doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu076
Choi, J., Flynn, L. in Aiken, L. H. (2012). Nursing practice environment and registered nurses’ job satisfaction in nursing homes’. The Gerontologist, 52(4), 484–492. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnr101
Eurofound (2020). Long-Term Care Workforce: Employment and Working Conditions, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Dostopno na: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/customised-report/2020/long-term-care-workforce-employment-andworking-conditions (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
European Association for Long-Term Care Nursing. (2018). The Shortage of Long-Term Care Staff in Europe: Causes, Consequences and Solutions. Dostopno na: https://www.eanp.org/en/projects/ltc-staff-shortage-in-europe.html (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
European Public Servis Union (2022). Staff shortages in health increase across Europe. Dostopno na: https://www.epsu.org/article/staff-shortages-health-increase-across-europe.
Havig, A. K., Skogstad, A. in Veenstra, M. (2011). Job Satisfaction among Nursing Home Staff: A Literature Review. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(4), 500–516. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2010.01159.x
Kerbler, B., Sendi, R. in Filipovič Hrast, M. (2017). Odnos starejših ljudi do dóma in domačega bivalnega okolja. Urbani izziv, 28(2), 18–31. https://doi.org/10.5379/urbani-izziv-2017-28-02-002.
OECD. (2021a). Health at a Glance. OECD INDICATORS. Dostopno na: https://www.oecdilibrary.org/docserver/ae3016b9-en.pdf?expires= 164128013&id =id&accname=guest&checksum (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
OECD.(2021b) Who Cares? Attracting and Retaining Care for the Elderly. Dostopno na: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/92c0ef68-en/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/92c0ef68-en (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
Računsko sodišče RS (2019). Revizijsko poročilo 2019 Skrb: za tiste, ki zaradi starosti, duševne ali telesne prizadetosti potrebujejo pomoč drugih. Dostopno na: https://www.rs-rs.si/fileadmin/user_upload/Datoteke/Revizije/2019/KAM/KAM-2_RSP_RevizijskoP.pdf (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
Ramovš, J. (2019). Integrirana dolgotrajna oskrba. Kakovostna starost, 22(3), 54–56.
Spasova, S., Beaten, R. in Vanhercke, B. (2018). Challenges in Long-Term Care in Europe. Eurohealth Observer, 24(4), 7–12.
World Health Organization. (2018). Long-Term Care for Older People. Dostopno na: https://www.who.int/ageing/long-term-care/en/ (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
Zakon o dolgotrajni oskrbi v Sloveniji. (2021). Uradni list RS, št. 196/21 (9. 12. 2021). Dostopno na: http://www.pisrs.si/Pis.web/pregledPredpisa?id=ZAKO762 (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije (2021). Analiza razmer na trgu dela in kadrovska strategija na področju zdravstvene dejavnosti. Dostopno na: https://www.zbornica-zveza.si/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Analiza_razmer_na_trgu_dela_in_predlog_politik_ter_ukrepov_kadrovske_strategije2.pdf (pridobljeno 28. 2. 2023).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Karmen Erjavec
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
