Nurse assistants' experiences and knowledge of how they create a meaningful daily life for older persons receiving municipal home healthcare

Abstract

Aims and ObjectivesTo explore nurse assistants' experiences and knowledge of how they create a meaningful daily life for older people receiving municipal home healthcare.DesignA participatory appreciative action reflection approach.MethodsInterviews, participant observations and informal conversations with 23 nurse assistants in municipal home healthcare generated the data. A thematic analysis was used.ResultsTwo main themes were developed. The first main theme, building a reciprocal relationship, was structured by three subthemes: To strengthen the older person's self‐esteem, to co‐create care and to create equality. The second main theme, creating meaning, was structured by two subthemes: To create closeness and to receive appreciation. The two main themes are each other's prerequisite. Nursing assistants' building reciprocal relationships gives meaning; through the meaning, reciprocal relationships are achieved, and by that, meaningful daily lives for both the older people and the nurse assistants.ConclusionNurse assistants built a reciprocal relationship both for the older people and for the nurse assistant. This contributes to create a meaningful daily life for the older people. The older person was the main character, and it seems that the nurse assistants apply person‐centred care, which can represent a shared common vision that can be used in the encounter.