Why building relationships matters in homecare for older people

2026-01-08

As populations age across the globe, the question of how we care for older people has become more pressing than ever. A new doctoral thesis at the University of Borås highlights the hidden complexities of homecare and shows that the relationships between nurses and older adults are deeply intertwined with the very meaning of care in the home.

The research project, carried out by Karoline Lang Mathiesen, is part of the EU-funded INNOVATEDIGNITY Project. In her study, she explored how caring relationships develop in the homes of older people through interviews with participating older people and nurses.

“I have listened to the lived experiences of both older adults and homecare nurses, and it turns out that care is not simply a series of tasks to be performed in the home. It is about identity, autonomy and belonging,” she explained.

Central to the thesis is the view of the home as more than just a physical place. Caring relationships are shaped by the cultural, emotional and existential meanings that the home carries. Freedom and a sense of being at home matter greatly. Older adults want care that allows them to feel secure while maintaining agency and identity. For nurses, however, task-driven routines and heavy workloads risk reducing care to mere efficiency. Yet by building relationships, dignity can be restored for both nurses and those receiving care.

Why is this important?

“Because people are living longer than ever before, the demand for homecare will increase significantly. In my thesis, I argue that it is crucial to recognise the relational and existential dimensions of care in order to promote well-being in old age. The thesis also highlights the need for better working conditions for nurses, to ensure continuity and sustainable care systems,” said Karoline Lang Mathiesen.

Were there any surprises?

“I was most moved by the courage and kindness of the participants—both older adults and nurses—who shared their personal stories. Their openness revealed how caring relationships shape both the experience of being cared for and the act of caring itself.”

The results of the thesis show that policy must go beyond efficiency and cost, to support care that respects dignity and identity. Sustainable homecare systems, Mathiesen concluded, depend on valuing relationships just as highly as routines.

Karoline Lang Mathiesen defended her dissertation in Caring Science on 8 December at the University of Borås.

Read the doctoral thesis: Freedom and At-Homeness as Existential Meanings of Caring Relationships in Homecare: Lived Experiences of Older Adults and Homecare Nurses

Principal Supervisor: Lina Palmér, Professor

Assistant Supervisor: Elisabeth Lindberg, Professor

Research in The Human Perspective in Care at the University of Borås

Research on Existential Issues in Caring and Learning Contexts at the University of Borås

About INNOVATEDIGNITY Project (Action H2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie/Innovative Education Networks), which is funded by the European Commission (2019– 2023).

Solveig Klug

Adobestock