In my master's thesis, I research the help and support that relatives received in the process of their old family member's admission to institutional care, and later. I was interested in many facts. I wanted to find out how the relatives prepared themselves for this difficult situation, how they adapted to it, what challenges they faced and how they coped with distress when an old member of their family went to a nursing home. Moreover, I also wondered how relatives experience the support and help of social services when their old family member is admitted to a nursing home, and later, and if there is anything they miss or would like more of. In the theoretical framework, I define old age and the process of ageing, and point out the most common needs of the elderly. In the following part of the theoretical framework, I present different types of social networks and social support in old age, paying particular attention to informal social networks and the relationship between old people and other members of the family. In the last part of the theoretical framework, I focus my attention on how relatives prepare themselves for this difficult situation. I write about their role, especially about the challenges they face and the distress they cope with when an old member of their family goes to a nursing home. Finally, I define the role of social work profession in institutional care. In the empirical part of my master's thesis, I present the results of my research, which I obtained by analysing interviews made on the basis of a non-random and convenience sampling of 10 relatives. The analysis of the obtained data shows that the decision to send an old family member to institutional care and the preparation for it is a process which represents one of the most important events in their relatives' lives. This process can be divided into three phases: the negotiation phase, the decision-making phase and the adjustment phase. Those who participate in the process of preparing an old person for institutional care experience mostly negative feelings. The results of the research also show that the role of relatives changes a lot when their family member receives institutional care. The study participants mention the phenomenon of different emotions. The emotions relatives experienced when their old family members needed institutional care were different from those they experienced when old people were actually admitted to a nursing home. Relatives describe the adjustment phase as long-lasting, emotionally exhausting and stressful. Therefore, when their old family members need institutional care, their relatives face various types of distress, among which the most common are: doubtfulness, sadness, disappointment, feelings of helplessness, failure and guilt. The participants had received professional help and support from social services, not only after the institutionalization, but already before their old family member was admitted to nursing care. However, the relatives also mentioned negative experience with social services. Besides, the analysis results also show insufficient help and support of medical staff, which is often the consequence of too little personal contact between relatives and medical staff and lack of empathy for an old person who has just been admitted to a nursing home. In connection with this, the relatives also suggested a number of tips for offering and providing appropriate help and support.
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