Despite Symptom Severity, do Nursing Home Residents Experience Joy-of-Life? The Associations Between Joy-of-Life and Symptom Severity in Norwegian Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

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Quality of life and nurse–patient interaction among NH residents: Loneliness is detrimental, while nurse–patient interaction is fundamental

“…In Norway, about 86% of long-term NH residents have extensive assistance needs; the mean residential stay is about one to two years, and annual mortality is about 40% (Norwegian Directorate of Health, 2020). Furthermore, symptom severity seems constantly high; in 2009 (Haugan, 2014d) and 2018 (Rinnan et al, 2022) symptom severity was reported respectively as: 57% and 54% fatigue, 43% and 52% constipation, 49% and 45% pain, 41% and 43% dyspnoea, 38% and 32% insomnia, 25% and 22% appetite loss, 18% and 20% nausea, 12% and 20% anxiety and 30% and 23% reported depressive symptoms. Nevertheless, a recent study demonstrates that despite these ailments, about 50% of residents in Norwegian NHs report a high joy-of-life (Rinnan et al, 2022).…”

“…Moving to a NH result from numerous losses, illnesses, disabilities, loss of functions and social relations and facing an end-of-life situation. Accordingly, the long-term NH population is characterised by a high incidence of chronic illness and functional impairments (Hoben et al, 2016), multiple simultaneous and complex diagnoses with a severe symptom burden, impaired functioning, various losses and fewer social relationships (Haugan, 2014b;Rinnan et al, 2022;Söderbacka et al, 2017). All of these increase an individual's vulnerability and distress.…”