A qualitative examination of policy and structural factors driving care workers’ adverse experiences in long-term residential care facilities for the older adults in Cape Town

BACKGROUND: There is lack of adequate training and policy support for employed care workers (CWs) employed in the South African (SA) older persons’ sector. Existing literature neglects the influence of training and policy support on CWs’ experiences in long-term care (LTC) for older adults in residential care facilities (RCFs). We investigated the ways in which CWs’ experiences are rooted in the lack of adequate training and policy support. METHODS: Qualitative data was collected through focus group (FG) interviews with 32 CWs employed in RCFs in the City of Cape Town. Data was also collected using semi-structured interviews with representatives of five RCFs for older adults and four training organisations providing CW training in the City of Cape Town, South Africa. RESULTS: Despite some positive caregiving experiences, CWs face role ambiguity and experience care work as a ‘career-less job’. They also face poor employment conditions, negative interpersonal relations at work, and role overload. They are not coping with the demands of LTC due to role overload, and lack of basic caregiving skills, coping skills and socio-emotional support. Their motivation to cope and provide quality care is hamstrung by their experiences of role ambiguity, poor employment conditions, negative interpersonal relations at work, and lack of career growth opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that CWs’ experiences derive from the policy and structural context of caregiving. Policy inadequacies and lack of structural support create conditions for adverse conditions which negatively impact on CWs motivation and ability to cope with the demands of LTC. Lack of policy implementation presents structural barriers to quality LTC in the older persons’ sector. Implementation of policies and systems for professionalising care work is long overdue.