Background: Intentional Touch (InTouch) refers to a soft physical touch with the aim to ease complaints and enhance well-being. Central questions were perception of InTouch by nurses and patients and possible effects on pain perception. Patients and Methods: InTouch was developed by stakeholder involvement. Nurses working in geriatric care received expert training in InTouch. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation (including video recording) were conducted with nurses applying and patients with chronic pain receiving InTouch after the beginning of the intervention and after 4 weeks. Interviews were analyzed based on Qualitative Content Analysis and video recordings based on Qualitative Visual Analysis. Results: Six elderly patients with chronic pain and 6 nurses were included. Nurses and patients equally described relaxation, well-being, and a sensation of warmth during the intervention. Patients reported no pain during the intervention. After the intervention, 3 patients each experienced pain relief or no change. Patients described better drive and positive feelings, and nurses felt empowered in their nursing work. Empathetic attention had special importance for improving the therapeutic relationship. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that InTouch promoted relaxation, well-being, and pain relief for elderly people suffering from chronic pain and may contribute positively to the therapeutic relationship.
Currently, gender-specific activity offers in nursing facilities are not widespread. Existing offers are mostly based on traditional gender stereotypes; therefore, it would be desirable if the diversity in the reality of life and the individual needs of women and men would be recognized.
Ten years ago, the Charter for People in Need of Long-term Care was published in Germany. The Charter contains a series of basic rights for people in need of long-term care. At the initiative of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), this was developed in a complex consensus process together with the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and representatives from all areas of care. Since then, the Charter has gained practical relevance in various areas of care and has entered into legislation. The article looks at the dissemination and impact of the Charter following a review of the social and legal environment. Further implementation requirements and the revision of the charter are discussed.
All citizens have the right to dignified and respectful social care and assistance. The state and society as a whole have the responsibility to guarantee the realization of these rights. However, the question arises what is dignified and respectful long-term care and assistance for the individual? One possible answer is given by the German Charter of Rights for people in need of long-term care and assistance. The charter summarizes existing books of law such as the German Federal Constitution or the European Social Charter and translates them into a specific context of long-term care. It is written in a language easily understood by everyone and reflects the central situation of people in need of long-term care and assistance. It sets an explicit benchmark for health and social care in Germany. The Charter was developed in 2005 at the round table for long-term care, hosted by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security. The round table consisted of representatives of users, consumer groups and other stakeholders, but also of care providers and health and care insurance funds in Germany.Many institutions, such as residential homes and health care services have now successfully applied the Charter in their daily work and it has found its way into several books of law at national and regional levels. The following article gives an overview of the structure, content and intention of the Charter and also highlights examples of implementation and its effects on the care structure and daily work with people in need of long-term care.
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