Paper Short Abstract:

The transformation of knowledge related to long-term care: implications for transiting change and trust-building.

Paper Abstract:

The actual systemic crisis manifests the profound changes which are taking place in contemporary long-term care systems, leading to new care modalities in society. Through 26 interviews conducted with caregivers, family members, and older adults with care needs, this communication presents the study that aims to make visible the transformation in the conceptions of care in the Basque Country (north of Spain). The results revealed the socio-cognitive tensions and transformations experienced by the actors, through three main processes. The first process shows the displacement of familialist ideas in favor of individualization; the second, the contextual validation of the institutionalization and outsourcing of care; the third, the hybridization of ideas that lead to new care modalities, such as professionalization and personalization. The relevance of a dynamic and situated approach to the theory of social representations, and its contribution to the analysis of new knowledge disseminated in a changing cultural and organizational context are discussed. The potential of the findings for promoting collective trust in care provision are also examined, considering the actor´s diverse dialogues and positions.

Keywords: cognitive polyphasia, care model transition, social representations, trust.