Fernando Pereira
Institute Polytechnic of Braganca, Portugal
Title: Gerontologist skills and client satisfaction in long-term residential care for older persons
Biography
Biography: Fernando Pereira
Abstract
In contemporary Western societies the population aging poses new challenges both to the policies and to the support systems for the older persons. In Portugal, where the phenomena have a major impact, it has emerged a new professional profile, the gerontologist. From the beginning the gerontologist (Licenciate’s Diploma in Gerontology) has emerged as a new professional exclusively devoted to providing care for the older persons and shares the labor market with other professionals who are usually leaders in LTCRs for the older persons, namely: managers, psychologists, nurses, sociologists, social educators and other social workers.
Recent studies (Pereira & Antão, 2014; Pereira & Caria, 2014) show a clear evidence of technical, organizational and communicative skills, which can be considered specific to this professional group (gerontologists) and which are distinctive from those shown by other professional caregivers. The focus goes to the sensibility of the gerontologists to detect in advance symptoms of a pathological aging, and to a personal contact with the older person and their families. It is still very valuable their ability to organize and develop innovative services and activities. The internalization of the concept of interdisciplinary and the ability to integrate and streamline interdisciplinary technical teams is also mentioned as a feature of this professional group. These profile skills have been considered by employers the main reasons to hire gerontologists rather than other professionals (Pereira, Mata & Pimentel, 2012).
In this study 160 older persons living in Portuguese LRTC are questioned about their satisfaction in regard to the effectiveness of organization. The older persons from LTRCs managed by a gerontologist are more likely to be “more satisfied” with provided care. This association was not explained by residents’ characteristics or by the older person’s circumstances as residents. These findings highlight the appropriateness of gerontologist skills in managing LTRCs.
Gerontologist skills and client satisfaction in long-term residential care for older persons
Recent Publications:
- Falcão, A., Pereira, F., Pimentel, H., Teixeira, C., & Rodrigues, V. (2016). The academic background of gerontologists and client satisfaction in long-term residential care for older persons. Educational Gerontology, 1–11.
- Caria, Telmo H., & Pereira, Fernando (2016). Social work like as a bureaucratic professional labour: An empirical analysis in non-profit organizations in Northern Portugal. European Journal of Social Work, 19(1), 120-139.
- Fernando Pereira e Telmo Caria (2014). “Travail professionnel des gérontologues: une approche méthodologique”. Revista Le Sociographe. Champ Social Éditions. pp 306-330.
- Fernando Pereira (Coordinator) (2017) "Theory and Practice of Gerontology: A Guide for Caregivers of Elderly". Second Edition. Ed. Psicosoma, Viseu.
- Fernando Pereira and Celeste Antão (2013) "Concept of Gerontological Care Professionals Provided by gerontologists". International Journal of Development and Educational Psycology INFAD Journal of Psychology. Year XXV, No. 2-2013. p. 51-58.
