Relationships Between Home Care Clients and Their Workers: Implications for Quality of Care

In-depth interviews were conducted with 54 home care clients and their home health aides and personal care attendants. The interview data reveal that home care relationships tend to be both formal and informal, in that job responsibilities tend to be diffusely defined and home care workers often become involved in the "backstage" world of their clients. The study also suggests, however, that personal bonds may be problematic for both workers and clients. For workers there is the risk of exploitation; for clients, there is the potential for loss of control over their own care. The quality of relationships also affects quality of care.