Caring dynamics as perceived by staff supporting daily occupations for developmentally disabled adults

This study addresses caring staff experiences of hindrances and help in the support of daily occupations among people with developmental disabilities. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire consisting of open-ended q uestions about the staff perceptions of their work experiences. The respond ents (n = 81), corresponding to 94.1% of all care staff employed in a geogr aphically defined care area in southern Sweden, worked in various day activ ity units supporting the daily occupations of their clients. A constant com parative method of data analysis was used. Staff expressions were classifie d in two main categories of caring dynamics: an operational level and a man agerial level. Four areas were identified at the operational level: encount ering realities of practice, attitudes to the clients and work demand, usin g the potential of knowledge and strategies and applying helping actions to the client. The managerial level included two areas, generalized work stra tegy and individualized work strategy. It is suggested that to develop the quality of interventions for supporting daily activities among persons with developmental dis abilities, efforts should be made to identify caring dyn amics as experienced by the caring staff.