The Modest Proposal Nursing Home: Dehumanizing Characteristics of Nursing Homes in of Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

Humanistic care is care that leads to quality of life. The viewpoint of nursing home residents is uniquely indicative of humanistic and dehumanizing care in nursing homes. Therefore, three books by nursing home residents about their experiences in nursing homes are examined in the context of three themes of humanization: control, privacy, and relationships. These insights are then translated into the model "Modest Proposal" Nursing Home, less infeasible than its Swiftian namesake and equally thought-provoking. Some persons of desponding Spirit are in great Concern about that vast Number of poor People, who are Aged, Diseased, or Maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the Nation of so grievous an Incumbrance. But I am not in the least Pain upon that Matter; because it is very well known, that they are every Day dying, and rotting, by Cold and Famine, and Filth, and Vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. (Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal)

Can Caring Create Prejudice? An Investigation of Positive and Negative Intergenerational Contact in Care Settings and the Generalisation of Blatant and Subtle Age Prejudice to Other Older People

“…This is the first empirical research to measure CWs' denial of humanness to CHRs and older adults, and provides some explanation of why CWs may dehumanise to different degrees. The findings reinforce qualitative evidence that CHRs may be vulnerable to dehumanising behaviour (Berdes, ; Cayton, ; Fiveash, ). It has been suggested that dehumanisation facilitates medical decisions and reduces staff stress (Lammers & Stapel, ) and is therefore functional (Vaes & Muratore, ), but the present study suggests, for the first time, some wider damaging effects of dehumanisation.…”

“…A type of subtle prejudice pertinent to older people is dehumanisation, which is defined as ‘the denial of full humanness to others’ (Haslam, , p.252). Dehumanisation is commonly mentioned in gerontology literature; the eldercare setting is seen as dehumanising (Berdes, ), and healthcare professionals are accused of using dehumanising language with older people (Cayton, ). Yet, although qualitative research reports CHRs' experience of dehumanisation (Fiveash, ), there appears to be no quantitative evidence of dehumanisation of CHRs.…”

The Risks of Ageism Model: How Ageism and Negative Attitudes toward Age Can Be a Barrier to Active Aging

“…When denied their humanness, older people are vulnerable to discrimination, elder speak, cruelty, harm, and abuse (Storlie, ). Despite evidence that health care settings and care workers can be dehumanizing (Berdes, ; Drury et al., in press), there is little empirical research that has explored the role of ageist attitudes and dehumanizing attitudes in elder abuse, although many consider them linked.…”

Nursing Home Quality: A Framework for Analysis

“…Studies suggest, for example, that residents vary in the amounts of privacy and social interaction they find desirable (Firestone, Lichtman, & Evans, 1980;Kayser-Jones, 1986), and even in the importance they attach to personal possessions (Fawcett, Stonner, & Zepelin, 1980;Harel, 1981). Again, the voices asking for a little private and personalized space are there, if we as a society listen (Berdes, 1987;Bowker, 1982;Homer, 1982;Institute of Medicine, 1986;Laird, 1979;Spaulding, 1985;Tulloch, 1975; Washington State Nursing Home Resident Councils, 1988). It is not unreasonable to suspect that most residents might prefer a homier atmosphere as opposed to living in a sterile, hospital-like room for a prolonged period of time.…”