“I regret not having more time to talk with them [residents with dementia]. We take care for their hygiene, Ana Barbosa et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 140 ( 2014 ) 172 – 177 175
we feed them, lay them and I feel that they wish to talk with us, they want to tell us something and we don’t
have a bit of time to be with them and to hear them.” [Maria]
“We should have more time to properly care for them... without any stress or rush, with enough time to talk
with them, to encourage them to do something.” [Luciana]
A second threat to the quality level of care was related to DCWs’ need of being ‘recognised’ and ‘valued’ by
their emotional demanding work. Many participants missed acknowledgment from their managers and feel that their
work is unappreciated. They reported that if their emotional needs were attended they were more likely to be in a
state of better well-being which could lead to better care: