A1 Journal article (refereed)
Caring in space : the boundaries between public and private spaces in Finnish adult foster care homes (2021)
Leinonen, E. (2021). Caring in space : the boundaries between public and private spaces in Finnish adult foster care homes. Ageing and Society, 41(5), 1184-1201. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X19001831
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Leinonen, Emilia
Journal or series: Ageing and Society
ISSN: 0144-686X
eISSN: 1469-1779
Publication year: 2021
Volume: 41
Issue number: 5
Pages range: 1184-1201
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X19001831
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68314
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to explore a hybrid community-based form of care for older people called adult foster care. In the article, the nature of the foster care home as a place of care is explored from the foster carers’ point-of-view. It is based on an interview study of 12 foster carers. In this article, the theoretical frameworks from human geography and work–family research are combined in order to analyse the boundaries between private family-life and public work-life in the particular space of the foster care home. The research questions are: What kinds of public and private spaces exist in adult foster care homes? What kinds of boundaries separate (a) the public and private spaces and (b) the foster care home and the outside world? The findings suggest that foster care homes are very complex socio-spatial places of care, in which the questions of power (who can do what and when in a certain space), the re-organisation of home, and the division of private and public spaces all contest the idea of home as a mere ‘safe haven’ from the pressures of work life. Different boundaries and boundary management strategies enabled the foster carers to regard their place of living and working as their home, even though it had altered to a place of care of ‘strangers’.
Keywords: home care; caring for close relatives; privacy; publicity; boundaries; work; family (phenomena)
Free keywords: adult foster care; Finland; public and private; boundaries; work and family
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care
- Kröger, Teppo
- Research Council of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2021
JUFO rating: 2