Older patients or residents suffer greater instances of deprived autonomy and a lack of dignity than other age groups (Oosterveld-Vlug et al 2014).

Specifically tailored strategies and education need to be established (Franklin et al 2006).

Patient/resident appearance should be a central focus in enabling respect (Hoy et al 2007)

Wider organisational structures require a reform to enable dignity related objectives to be attained by staff (Jakobsen & Sorlie 2010)

“Looking respectable” at all times was identified as essential and enabled through privacy (Woolhead et al 2004)

Nursing home residents should be capable of isolating themselves as required (Falk et al 2012)

Autonomy and privacy are indivisable concepts (Randers & Mattiasson 2004)

Communication

Conclusion

References:Falk H., Wijk H., Person H.O & Fallk K (2013) A sense of home in residential care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 27(4), 999-1009.Franklin L.L., Ternesdeth B.M & Nordenfelt L (2006) Views on Dignity of Elderly Nursing Home Residents. Nursing Ethics. 13(2), 130-146. Hoy B., Wagner L Hall O.C (2007) The elderly patient’s dignity. The core value of health. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 26(2), 287-294.Jakobsen R & SorlieV (2010) Dignity of older people in a nursing home: Narratives of care providers. Nursing Ethics. 17(3), 289-300.Kelly J (2014) Nursing issues and concerns in the care of older persons in acute hospital care in the Republic of Ireland: a Delphi Study..Jounral of Clinical Nursing. 23(23/24), 3603-3606.Koskenniemi J., Leingo-Kilpi H. & Suhonen R (2013) Respect in the care of older patients in acute hospitals. Nursing Ethics. 20(1), 5-17.Lagacé M., Tanguay A., Lavallée M-L., Laplante J. & Robichaud S (2012) The silent impact of ageist communication in long term care facilities: Elders’ perspectives on quality of life and coping strategies. Journal of Ageing Studies. 26(3), 335-342.Oosterveld-Vlug M.G., Pasman H.R.W., Gennip I.E., Muller M.T., Willems D.L & Onwuteaka-Philipsen B.D (2014) Dignity and the factors that influence it according to nursing home residents: a qualitative inter- view study. Journal of Advanced Nursing 70(1), 97–106 Randers I & Mattiasson A (2004) Autonomy and intergrity: upholding older adult patients’ dignity. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 45(1), 63-71.Woolhead G., Calnan M. Dieppe P & Tadd W (2004) Dignity in older age: what do older people in the United Kingdom think? Age and Ageing. 33(2), 165-170.

Introduction

A Critical Analysis of Dignity Promotion and Maintenance Amongst the Elderly Community, From Diverse Perspectives

Aim: to review the literature and identify research concerned with the promotion of dignity amongst the older person from diverse perspectives

Preservation of dignity has been identified as second on a list of priorities published by an Irish study for older persons (Kelly, 2014). This led the author to carry out a comprehensive literature review on the subject.

Search Strategy: Academic search complete,

Cinahl and Medline databases were utilised

15 qualitative research studies and 2 systemic reviews

Autonomy and respect, privacy and communication were identified as the most reccurent themes within the literature

Autonomy and Respect

Dignity

Privacy

Active listening and reassurance provided by staff creates a greater sense of self-worth (Koskenniemi et al 2013)

Ageist communication is highly detrimental to the psychological well-being of nursing home residents (Lagacé et al 2012).

There is an evident seperation between the ideal practice identified within the literature and the wider organisational structures that are not accomodating or enabling nurses to implement such strategies within practice

Future policy documents and research studies should provide strategies and measures required for the suggested practice to become achievable.

Name: Felix Berger