Rationale
The increasing number of frail home‐dwelling older people has sharpened the focus on discovering and implementing suitable treatment and care in clinical practice, aiming to prevent loss of physical functioning and preserve their autonomy and well‐being. People's embodied experiences may yield rich descriptions to help to understand frailty. Thoroughly understanding older people's individual perceptions is especially relevant because the numbers of home‐dwelling older people are increasing, and people tend to develop more health problems and become frailer as they age. Their perspectives are important to develop knowledge and high‐quality care.
Aim
To explore the lived experiences of frail home‐dwelling older people.
Methods
We conducted a phenomenological study to obtain in‐depth descriptions of the phenomenon. We interviewed 10 home‐dwelling older adults (seven women and three men, 72–90 years old) in depth about their lived experience of frailty. We analysed the data using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach described by van Manen.
Findings
The lived experience of frailty is described in one essential theme: frailty as being in the borderland of the body, including three interrelated subthemes: (1) the body shuts down; (2) living on the edge; and (3) not giving up.
Conclusions
Our study gives insight into lived experiences with frailty among home‐dwelling older people related to their own body. Older people's experience of meaningful activities strengthened their feeling of being themselves, despite their frail and deteriorating body. Healthcare providers must consider the strategies of frail older people to consider both their vulnerabilities and self‐perceived strengths. The resources and deficits of frail older people present in the state of being frail need to be recognised.
Background
Home healthcare services are becoming more complex as a result of changing demographics in society and patients having multiple health problems requiring advanced nursing care. Next of kin often experience that they put their own life on hold, and may feel that they stand alone when life takes an unexpected turn.
Aim
The aim of this study was to explore next of kin's views of dignity in home healthcare services.
Methods
This study has a qualitative approach and content analysis was applied. The purposeful sample consisted of next of kin to patients who received services from home healthcare or in nursing homes (n = 11). One focus group was conducted in 2016.
Results
Five themes emerged from the data analysis concerning struggling for a dignifying care in home healthcare services: Indignity implies double vulnerability, desire for respect and recognition, experiencing responsibility for a dignifying life, undignifying care due to lack of competence, and the home as a common sanctuary is gradually lost.
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of ensuring dignity in care for patients living at home. Next of kin should be seen as a partner with the need for recognition and support. Maintaining human dignity for loved ones requires competence, respect and recognition.
Etter samhandlingsreforma har det vore ein auke i komplekse, pasientretta oppgåver for sjukepleiarar i kommunehelsetenesta. Behovet for kompetanseheving er stort, men det manglar ein overordna strategi. FORFATTERE Dagrun Kyrkjebø Høgskulelektor Avdeling for helsefag, Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Førde Bente Egge Søvde Høgskulelektor Avdeling for helsefag, Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Førde Maj-Britt Råholm Professor Avdeling for helsefag, Høgskulen på Vestlandet, Førde NøKKELORD Fokusgrupper, Kommunehelsetjeneste, Sykepleierrolle, Kvalitativ studie, Organisering SAMMENDRAG Bakgrunn: Samhandlingsreforma har ført med seg endring i arbeidsoppgåver og kompetansekrav for kommunalt tilsette sjukepleiarar. Det har vore ein auke i komplekse, pasientretta oppgåver, og sjukepleiarane har fått ein travlare kvardag der behovet for kompetanseheving er stort. Denne studien er ein del av ein større kvantitativ studie (NursComp) der forskargruppa har undersøkt sjukepleiekompetanse i kommunehelsetenesta i Sogn og Fjordane. Føremål: Føremålet med studien er å beskrive korleis sjukepleiarar i kommunehelsetenesta arbeider med kompetanseutvikling, og kva utfordringar sjukepleiarane møter i arbeidet med slik utvikling. Metode: Vi hadde ei kvalitativ tilnaerming, og vi gjennomførte to fokusgruppeintervju i to kommunar i Sogn og Fjordane. Utvalet omfatta seks sjukepleiarar frå kommune 1 og åtte frå kommune 2. Resultat: Sjukepleiarane beskriv mange faktorar som påverkar dei i arbeidet med å halde seg fagleg oppdaterte -mellom anna fellesskap med kollegaer, refleksjonstid, tidspress, økonomiske faktorar og mangel på tilrettelegging frå leiarane.Konklusjon: Sjukepleiarane har plikt til å vere fagleg oppdaterte for å møte krava i
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