老人日間照顧中心社會工作者的困境及因應策略

Dilemma and coping strategies of social workers in day care centers for elderly

臺灣進入高齡社會，老年人口逐年攀升，在地老化已是各國推動長照政策的目標，近年來國內大力推動社區式照顧模式，使得老人日照中心迅速成長，然而長照社工流動率高且耗損相當快，同時並未有相關法規針對老人日照中心社工的職責有明確地規定，導致其角色模糊與定位不明的情形，因此相關社工人力培育的議題必須受到重視。
本研究採用質性研究之深度訪談法，分別與12名老人日照機構主管和社工進行半結構式訪談，藉由彙整兩方觀點，試圖釐清老人日照社工面臨的困境及因應策略。
研究發現困境議題為：（1）缺乏照顧思維，無法有效發揮自身專業能力；（2）主管與組織不了解社工專業；（3）法規制度的限制。其因應實務困境之策略為：（1）社工自我充權；（2）主管與團隊對於社工專業的認同與支持；（3）建立完善組織制度。
基於上述之研究發現，研究者分別針對未來社工在老人日照中心的政策、給予臨床工作者的借鏡與啟發及未來可探討的研究方向等提出研究建議。

Taiwan has become an aged society with its ever-increasing older population. In response to the call for aging in place, which is recognized worldwide as the goal for long-term care, Taiwan has vigorously promoted community care services. As a result, the number of adult day care centres in Taiwan grows rapidly, but the problem of high turnover among social workers employed for long-turn care services has also surfaced. Furthermore, social workers find their role and position in adult day care centres ambiguous due to lack of guidelines in current legislation. Therefore, the development of the social worker workforce warrants further investigation.
This study adopted a qualitative study design and conducted in-depth semistructured interviews with 12 managers and social workers working in adult day care centres. The views of the participants were analysed to identify the problems faced by social workers in day care centres and to propose solutions accordingly.
This study identified the following problems: (1) social workers lack the mentality of a care provider, which prevents them from effectively exercising their expertise; (2) the profession of social worker is ill-understood by their managers and the organisations they work for; and (3) limitations imposed by laws and regulations. To address these problems, the following solutions were proposed: (1) social workers must engage in self-empowerment; (2) social workers must seek recognition and support from their managers and teams; and (3) day care centres must implement comprehensive organisational policies for social workers.
The research findings of this study may provide reference and guidance for policies regarding the role of social workers in adult day care centres, the work of clinical professionals, and the direction for future studies.