Attitudes of in-home care aides toward elderly persons: refinement of the Oberleder Attitude Scale

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Social Psychology
• Healthcare Worker Attitudes

Background:

• Understanding caregiver attitudes is crucial for improving elder care quality.
• The Oberleder Attitude Scale previously measured attitudes but required refinement.
• In-home care settings present unique challenges and rewards for aides.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revise and validate the Oberleder Attitude Scale for contemporary use.
• To examine the attitudes of in-home care aides towards elderly patients.
• To identify key factors influencing caregiver perceptions.

Main Methods:

• The Oberleder Attitude Scale was reduced from 25 to 16 items.
• Factor analysis was employed to identify underlying conceptual dimensions.
• Data were collected from 345 in-home care aides.

Main Results:

• The revised 16-item scale factored into three concepts: potential, limitations, and stereotypes.
• A significant finding was the generally positive attitudes held by aides towards their elderly patients.
• The study provides empirical evidence on caregiver perceptions in home care.

Conclusions:

• The refined Oberleder Attitude Scale effectively measures caregiver attitudes.
• In-home care aides generally exhibit positive regard for elderly patients.
• Addressing perceptions of potential, limitations, and stereotypes can further enhance elder care.