Views on Dignity of Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

Discussion about a dignified death has almost exclusively been applied to palliative care and people dying of cancer. As populations are getting older in the western world and living with chronic illnesses affecting their everyday lives, it is relevant to broaden the definition of palliative care to include other groups of people. The aim of the study was to explore the views on dignity at the end of life of 12 elderly people living in two nursing homes in Sweden. A hermeneutic approach was used to interpret the material, which was gathered during semi-structured interviews. A total of 39 interviews were transcribed. The analysis revealed three themes: (1) the unrecognizable body; (2) fragility and dependency; and (3) inner strength and a sense of coherence.

Perceptions of Iranian Cancer Patients Regarding Respecting their Dignity in Hospital Settings

“…This complexity has led to many conflicting strategies for maintaining and improving patients' dignity (Walsh andKowanko., 2002, Woogara., 2005). Identifying patients' perception of respectful and dignified care is one the most strategies for further clarification of this concept (Franklin et al, 2006). The findings of a qualitative survey, which explored the meaning of dignity among Iranian patients, highlighted the lack of dignified care (Torabizadeh et al, 2013).…”

Maintaining dignity in vulnerability: A qualitative study of the residents’ perspective on dignity in nursing homes

“…In recent publications, issues on maintaining dignity of older people in nursing homes have been raised with reference to palliative care and dying (Pleschberger 2007, Franklin et al 2006, Hall et al 2009a, Hall et al 2009b, to illness (Oosterveld-Vlug et al 2013a, Oosterveld-Vlug et al 2013b and to care (Tadd W. 2004, Bayer et al 2005.…”

Dignity in care: where next for nursing ethics scholarship and research?

“…The themes suggested in the qualitative studies published in Nursing Ethics are wide-ranging and relate to specific patient groups. In relation to older nursing home residents in Sweden, for example, Franklin and co-researchers (43) discuss themes of': the unrecognisable body (related to lack of control of physical functioning and movement); fragility and dependency (related to fears about the future, greater dependence on others and loss of autonomy); and 'inner strenght and sense of coherence' (related to strategies older people have to maintain dignity of identity). A study (44) explored the perspectives of patients experiencing multiple sclerosis regarding dignity in their care.…”

“…Nurse researchers, in particular, have conducted a wide range of qualitative research studies engaging patients and professionals to develop in-depth perspectives and discussions regarding the meaning and implications dignity in care (43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(56)(57)(58) . There has also been some quantitative work in this area (51) .…”