ABSTRACT
This chapter explores social forces impacting household spaces of ageing when care 'comes home'. It builds on Cloutier et al.'s application of Bergum and Dossetor's concepts of relational ethics and relational space to home care. The chapter examines the broader social forces and institutions that contribute to these layers and complexity. The focus is on how relational ethics and relational space are impacted by what are characterised here as relational properties of the home care context: collectivity, contingency and cultural diversity. Contingency as a relational property of home care operates in three primary ways: the Care Plan, home space, and variability of workers. The document guiding what, how much and within what time frame services are to be provided by workers is the Care Plan. Provision of care services to older people in their home space is a dynamic negotiated process that includes contributions from workers and family members themselves.
