ISKUSTVA KORISNIKA USLUGA OSOBNOG ASISTENTA
USERS’ EXPERIENCE OF PERSONAL ASSISTANCE

Summary/Abstract: The paper analyzes the users’ experience of personal assistant who are members of Paraplegia and Tetraplegia Association of Croatia. The definition of Personal Asssistant and Personal Assistance Pilot Project to persons with most profound type and degree of disabilities are defined in introduction. The aim of this research was to perceive users’ experience of personal assistance who are members of Paraplegia and Tetraplegia Association of Croatia. Eight members of the Association were interviewed in 2007. Fourteen categories were obtained by qualitative analysis of results. Cooperation features between the users and personal assistans are defined in following categories: 1. adjustment; 2. quality of relations; 3. different cooperation; 4. mutual compatibility and flexibility. Different types of help are defined: 1. practical help; 2. medical care; 3. help with spare time activities; 4. family help. Assistant personality characteristics are: 1. prosocial behaviour; 2. professional work atitude. Difficulties in work are defined in these categories: 1. absence of law regulations 2. organizational problems; 3. impossibility to find personal assistant; 4. personal problems.

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