<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Artikkelen bygger p&aring; intervju av n&aelig;re p&aring;r&oslash;rende om livsl&oslash;pet til pasienter med demenssykdom som bor i sykehjem i Nord-Norge. De p&aring;r&oslash;rende ble spesielt spurt om pasientenes vaner, interesser og aktiviteter gjennom livsl&oslash;pet. Det ble utf&oslash;rt narrativ analyse av intervjuene med vekt p&aring; fortolkning av livsl&oslash;p og livshendelser hos pasientene. Artikkelen viser hvordan p&aring;r&oslash;rende konkret bidrar til &aring; videref&oslash;re kontinuiteten i livsl&oslash;pet til pasienten, samtidig som det kommer fram hvordan denne kontinuiteten ogs&aring; har stor betydning for p&aring;r&oslash;rende i deres eget liv. Artikkelen viser og at for at pasienten skal oppleve kontinuitet i eget liv etter flytting til sykehjem, er det viktig med en form for kontakt med hjemplass og landskap, og at det gis rom for tradisjoner og livshistorie</em>.</span></span></p>

Persons with dementia disease in nursing homes: Reflection about lifeReferee*

In a research project where ten persons with dementia and their close families participated, the researcher explored how older people suffering from dementia could live meaningful lives. The aim of this article is to discuss some ethical considerations when persons with dementia are included in research, and to emphasize how to ensure their integrity and dignity. The qualitative research project involved fieldwork and interviews. Martinsen's ontological situational ethics gave the basis for the discussion of the results. Affected memory and language contributed to vulnerability. Relatives contributed to trust and made it possible for persons to convey narratives about what had been meaningful to them throughout their lives. Individual considerations promoted dignity and integrity. It was necessary to apply discretion 2 and have knowledge about dementia and communication to make the best of the ethical challenges that continuously arose.

This article aims to explore how nursing can support a sense of continuity and identity in patients with advanced dementia disease, living in nursing homes. Fourteen carers and managers in two nursing homes in northern Norway were interviewed. The analysis and discussion are based on the theoretical concepts of identity, continuity and person-centred nursing. This study concludes that an awareness of an individual's earlier life may be practically expressed in person-centred nursing, and may support continuity in the patient´s life even after moving into the nursing home. Documentation, professional development, and the organisation of the nursing home are important elements to ensure this awareness. Whilst on-going competence building in the nursing home is necessary, the value of local knowledge among the staff is also emphasized. Before a person moves to a nursing home it would be useful for staff to visit the person's home, gather information from the person and their family, and establish a relationship that can give a sense of security. In the nursing home, a feeling of belonging and identity can be enhanced through daily activities, personal care and mealtimes. The importance of reinforcing a sense of belonging in patients with dementia disease is highlighted.

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