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Important that also substance users have right to self-determination

Lecture room full of people
SWEAH researchers visited an event at Jörn Experience Hotel in Skellefteå. Photo: Anna Malm

Earlier this summer SWEAH postdoc Wossenseged Jemberie, Umeå University, and PhD student Jeanne Højgaard-Bøytler, Lund University, held a joint lecture on older adults and substance use issues, for around 60 employees in the health and social care and social psychiatry sectors in Skellefteå.

Providing person-centred care and care with respect for the individual's self-determination places high demands on care and care staff when substance use is involved.

Representatives from the association FORSA, Swedish Association for Social work research, began the day by talking about their work to combine social work in theory and practice.

Main speaker was Højgaard-Bøytler. Based on her research on specialized care for older adults with substance use and complex needs, she shared her knowledge of specialist nursing homes and specialized home care teams in Sweden and Denmark. Both from a user perspective and from a professional perspective. She believes that the individual's right to self-determination, low-affective treatment and motivational conversations are important approaches in caring for someone who is a substance user.

Jemberie presented his research on mental health; harmful use and addiction, and ageing. He also emphasized the importance of individual self-determination and explained that even small progress creates hope and motivation in recovery from addiction.

If you were unable to attend but would like to take part in the researchers' presentations, you can watch the recording on Youtube (in Swedish).