Home Care Services evaluation: a case study in a rural area

Abstract

In the field of General Social Services there is a profound deficit of evaluative research to assess some relevant criteria. Likewise, it is necessary to improve the evaluation that feeds back the decision-making in social policies contexts. The article presents the results of an evaluation of the Home Care Service in rural Aragon, whose objective is to estimate the effectiveness, efficiency, coverage and satisfaction with this service. The research uses a mixed descriptive-explanatory method that combined quantitative techniques (statistical exploitation of Social Services information systems and the satisfaction survey) and qualitative techniques (interviews to experts and professionals). The instrument includes variables grouped around program effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, user satisfaction, intensity and targeting of users according to their degree of dependency. The study highlights the high level of user satisfaction, the improvement in their social and health situation and the recognition of the work of the home help assistants. The need to strengthen the work of the Home Care Service requires appropriate instruments for evaluation, especially in a rural context with a care deficit, with high levels of ageing and over-ageing of the population.