Effects of Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Employees of Homes for the Elderly and Infirm

The COVID-19 pandemic is a pervasive problem that has affected all segments of endeavour, especially in the social welfare system. Consequently, the high risk of COVID-19 infections of the users of homes for the elderly and infirm and employees is known. The aim of this paper is to point out the importance and role of employees in homes for the elderly and infirm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this paper highlights the dangers, threats or challenges faced by employees in homes for the elderly and infirm since they are directly and daily in communication and interaction with the most at-risk group. Furthermore, the paper points to the need for support systems in which interpersonal communication with employees is necessary in order to preserve work activity. The authors present the results of a survey conducted on a sample of 132 employees. The results show how much the communication process during the pandemic affects employees and their approach to work with the aim of preserving their psychological state and thus the life quality of people placed in homes for the elderly and infirm. Pandemija COVID-a 19 sveprisutni je problem koji je ostavio posljedice u svim segmentima djelovanja, a posebno u sustavu socijalne skrbi. Slijedom toga, poznato je stanje visoke stope rizika od oboljenja COVID 19 u domovima za starije i nemoćne osobe za korisnike, ali i za zaposlenike. Cilj je rada ukazati na važnost i ulogu zaposlenika u domovima za starije i nemoćne osobe tijekom pandemije COVID 19. Upravo stoga, ovim radom ukazalo se na opasnosti, prijetnje ili izazove s kojima su se susretali zaposleni u domovima za starije i nemoćne osobe jer su oni neposredno i svakodnevno u komunikaciji i interakciji s najrizičnijom skupinom. Nadalje, radom se ukazuje na potrebu za sustavima podrške u kojima je interpersonalna komunikacija sa zaposlenicima neophodna kako bi se očuvala radna aktivnost. Autori u radu predstavljaju rezultate istraživanja provedenog na uzorku od 132 zaposlenika. Rezultati služe kako bi se predočilo koliko proces komunikacije tijekom pandemije utječe na zaposlenike i na njihov pristup u radu s ciljem očuvanja njihovog psihološkog stanja, a samim time i kvalitete života osoba smještenih u domovima za starije i nemoćne osobe.