Reimagining Men in Eldercare: Shifting Roles of Male Staff in Home Care
Demographic changes and migration patterns have led to increased participation of men in formal eldercare. As the number of male caregivers continues to rise, care users face a new situation: experiencing eldercare services provided by male staff. This trend challenges traditional stereotypes that associate care work with femininity. While a growing body of research indicates that men are increasingly stepping into caregiving roles, including in formal care provision, attention has largely focused on the perspective of care workers, omitting care users' experiences.
This study adds to contemporary research into male caregiving by focusing on how home care users in Sweden relate to male care staff, aiming to explore how care users perceive their experiences with male caregivers.
Methods
Data was collected through 34 qualitative interviews with home care users, aged 68 to 96, from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Both public and private care providers were included. Thematic analysis was used to explore how care users reflect on their interactions with male care staff.
Findings
Many respondents expressed indifference toward the gender of their caregivers, instead prioritising the quality of care. However, male caregivers, often from migrant backgrounds, were sometimes praised for providing good support, while other – primarily female – interviewees highlighted unease in intimate care situations such as showering. In such cases, concern was also expressed from the care user to the male staff members, whose potential discomfort worried some respondents.
Conclusions and implications
Contradicting the perception that caregiving is "women's work", this study challenges traditional gender norms, showing an acceptance among older adults for male caregivers. Discomfort, when experienced, tends to relate to intimate care. The expanding role of men in eldercare calls for a recognition of their contributions, potentially increase diversity and inclusivity in the caregiving professions.