Dignity and care for people with dementia living in nursing homes
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Postprint version of published article
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/10642/1956Utgivelsesdato
2013-12-18Metadata
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Originalversjon
Heggestad, A. K. T., Nortvedt, P., & Slettebø, Å. (2013). Dignity and care for people with dementia living in nursing homes. Dementia http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1471301213512840Sammendrag
This article presents and discusses findings from a qualitative study on how the dignity of patients with dementia is preserved or harmed when they live in a nursing home. The results build on participant observation in two nursing home wards, combined with qualitative interviews with seven relatives of patients with dementia. The most important issue for relatives was that their family member with dementia was confirmed as a relational human being. However, relatives experienced lack of resources and task-centred care as threats to confirming, relational care and to patients' dignity. Findings from participant observations confirmed this. In this article, we argue that care which focuses on the residents' personhood, combined with a relational focus, is of great importance in maintaining the dignity of people with dementia living in nursing homes.