Care work and status subjugation : An exploration of the relationship between care work organisation and training, and the recruitment crisis in adult long-term care

Downs, Carolyn and Ryder, Mike and Kalinowski, T.Bartosz and Swiatek-Barsylka, Ilona (2026) Care work and status subjugation : An exploration of the relationship between care work organisation and training, and the recruitment crisis in adult long-term care. Journal of Aging Studies, 76: 101411. ISSN 0890-4065

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Abstract

Using data from interviews, workshops and focus groups with 149 care workers across five European countries, we show how a combination of organisational structures and social constructs impact recruitment and retention in the adult social care sector. Our study focusses on the lived experience of residential and domiciliary care workers, identifying low status, role stigma and organisational structures as key barriers to personal and professional development leading to role dissatisfaction. Our research explores specific constraints faced by care workers and proposes processes, which could increase the status of care workers and improve recruitment and retention within the sector.