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How local stakeholders’ social representations shape the future of ageing in place: Insights from ‘health and care social innovations’ in Wallonia (Belgium)
Author(s) -
Bensliman Rachida,
Callorda Fossati Ela,
Casini Annalisa,
Degavre Florence,
Mahieu Céline
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
health and social care in the community
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.984
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1365-2524
pISSN - 0966-0410
DOI - 10.1111/hsc.13815
Subject(s) - empowerment , delphi method , thematic analysis , health care , sustainability , politics , sociology , public relations , nursing , psychology , qualitative research , business , political science , medicine , social science , ecology , statistics , mathematics , law , biology
Abstract This research attempts to study the social representations underlying health and care social innovations (HCSI) implemented in Wallonia, Belgium to shift ageing policies and management towards the ageing in place paradigm. A panel of 34 experts was interviewed to understand their representations using a Delphi‐based methodology. The data were processed using thematic content analysis. The core of social representations of health and care social innovations was related to five key dimensions: D1, responding to unmet or emerging health and care needs; D2, defining (new) targets and beneficiaries of HCSI; D3, disrupting care practices; D4, mobilising a network of key actors; and D5, encouraging political recognition of HCSI to favour its viability and sustainability. Local stakeholders’ social representations tended to recognise only the goal‐oriented dimensions in innovations and ignore process‐oriented aspects. The blind spots for workers’ participation and empowerment may jeopardise their working conditions, causing a cascade effect on the quality of services and the care relationship. This affected how health and care organisations responded to innovation and might also compromise the long‐term sustainability of ageing in place practices in Wallonia.