| Abstract [eng] |
In accordance with the Law on Social Integration of the Disabled (entered into force 01.07.2005), public institution “Klaipėdos lakštutė” provides social services to youth and adults with psychiatric and behavioral disorders, also seeks recognition of the quality of social services and certification according to EQUASS and introduces standards for the quality system of social services. Since 2017 September 11 this organization participates in the project titled as “Improvement of the Quality of Social Services Using the EQUASS Quality System” by the Valakupiai Rehabilitation Center. In order to improve the quality, diversity and organization of the provision of social services, it is necessary to study and evaluate social service - employment activity as a precondition for quality of life in the aspect of social work. Assessing the processes and outcomes of providing social services employment activities could improve the quality and supply of social services provided. The aim of the study - To study the quality of life of people with disabilities through employment activities at the day care center. Research is designed to find out what employment activity helps people with mental disorders to maintain / restore their quality of life and how. The survey is designed to interview not only clients but also employees who organize these activities and find common ground for change. It is planned that detailed internal psychosocial analysis and prepared recommendations will be implemented in the Public organization “Klaipėda Lakštutė”. The object of the study - Employment activities as a prerequisite for ensuring quality of life of people with disabilities. The aims of the study. 1. To reveal the links between quality of life of people with mental disabilities with organization of occupational activities in the day care center: its subjective and objective factors in the process of social integration. 2. Bring to the light the subjectively perceived by day care center clients their psychosocial transformation in the process of occupational activities: the link between subjective quality of life and organization of occupational activities. 3. To analyze the organization of social workers' occupational activities for people with mental disabilities in the day care center by social workers as a prerequisite for ensuring clients‘ quality of life. Methodology of the study. A qualitative study was conducted in January – February, in 2019. The data collection method was used an open-type semi-structured interview with people having disabilities and social workers. Selected qualitative data was processed by narrative analysis. Methodological approaches of research: theory of empowerment, concept of subjective and objective quality of life, existential philosophy. The first part it is analyzed the concept of quality of life of people with disabilities and discussed the importance of ensuring the quality of life of people with disabilities through organization of occupational activities at the day care center. Methodological approaches and describtion of research process is presented in the second part the organization of research and interview process of people with disabilities; course and ethics; interpretation of the data. On the third part of work the results of qualitative research are presented as well as insights about analyzed topic - liks between quality of life and occupational activities of people with disabilities. Results. The results of the research revealed both: the compatibility and the differencies of the clients and social workers in perceiving the situation. Clients perceive that activities, their nature, frequency and direction of activities are the most important in connection to their subjective quality of life perception. The most important research results were found in the different attitudes towards analyzed problem between people visiting this center 10 years and more and those, who participate in the activities less than 10 years. According to the results of the study, the factors influencing the perceived quality of life in a connection to organization of occupational activities for people with disabilities have been clarified. The results also revealed the essence and need of diversification of occupational activities for people with disabilities in the day care center. The results of the study emphasized an additional link between organization of occupational activities, perceived their efficiency and subjectivity in perception of people with disabilities, profesionalism of social workers and other objective factors. Conclusions. The services provided by the day care center have been found as ensuering the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities, increasing their empowerment, reducting social problems, improving social problem solving skills and impacting satisfaction of their needs which is essential for people with disabilities. |
