Conceptual development of “at-homeness” despite illness and disease: A review

Abstract

Only one empirical study, the one by Zingmark, Norberg and Sandman published in 1995, explicitly focuses on at-homeness, the feeling of being metaphorically at-home, as a particular aspect of wellness. However, other studies reveal aspects of at-homeness, but if or how such aspects of at-homeness are related to each other is unclear. For this reason, the aim was to review Scandinavian nursing research related to at-homeness in the context of wellness–illness in severe and long-term conditions in order to take a step towards conceptual clarification of “at-homeness.” The review included interpretive studies related to severe and long-term illness conducted in Sweden: 10 original articles and 5 doctoral theses. “At-homeness” was found to be a contextually related meaning of wellness despite illness and disease embedded in the continuum of being metaphorically at-home and metaphorically homeless. This was characterized by three interrelated aspects and four processes: being safe through expanding–limiting experiences of illness and time, being connected through reunifying–detaching ways of relating, and being centred through recognition–non-recognition of oneself in the experience and others giving–withdrawing a place for oneself. This conceptualization is to be regarded as a step in conceptual clarification. Further empirical investigation and theoretical development of “at-homeness” are needed. The conceptualization will be a step of plausible significance for the evaluation of interventions aimed at enhancing wellness for people with severe long-term illness, such as the frail elderly, and people with chronic illness or palliative care needs.

‘Contradictions in having care providers with a South Sami background who speak South Sami’: older South Sami People in Sweden's expectations of home nursing care

“…Being understood in your own language can represent at‐homeness for some participants in our study, and Öhlen et al. stress that at‐homeness can be experienced as a continuum between the poles of at‐homeness and homelessness. At‐homeness can also be seen as being related to both an actual and an existential place , and in this context being connected to one's own language can for the participants in our study represent at‐homeness regarding an existential place.…”

“…The category ‘Having care providers with a South Sami background and access to Sami food is of differing importance’ could also be related to the meaning of at‐homeness. One aspect of at‐homeness is that it can be seen from a relational perspective as being connected to others or oneself, and when being connected to others at‐homeness means having close and significant relationships . The participants in our study had different preferences regarding having care providers with a South Sami background, but some participants wanted care providers with a South Sami background even if they did not speak the South Sami language themselves.…”

Older adults’ experiences of a reablement process. “To be treated like an adult, and ask for what I want and how I want it”

“…The meaning of home especially in older age has been elaborated on in terms of feeling "at home ness", which can be experienced as wellness despite illness or disease (Öhlen, Ekman, Zingmark, Bolmsjö, & Benzein, 2014). Three aspects of "at home ness" appeared in the study by Öhlén et al: to be safe and secure, to be related, to be centered, i.e.…”

Sustainable Strategies for the Adaptive Reuse of Religious Heritage: A Social Opportunity

“…This issue is closely related to the objectives of contemporary medicine: the focus moved from a disease-oriented approach to a patient-oriented one, which considers the person with their overarching nature of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs [29]. The feeling of at-homeness is strictly related to the wellbeing of a person and, in fact, the aim of a shelter house is to combine the humanization of healthcare with a humanization of the places, by recreating the sense of home and a bond with the hosting community, which can help patients and their families face the illness [30].…”