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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| "The good life" for demented persons living in nursing homes | | Author(s) | Annemarie Kalis, Johannes J M van Delden, Maartje H N Schermer |
| Journal title | International Psychogeriatrics, vol 16, no 4, December 2004 |
| Pages | pp 429-440 |
| Source | http://journals.cambridge.org |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Nursing homes ; Quality of life ; Rights [elderly] ; Well being ; Standards of provision ; Social surveys ; Netherlands. |
| Annotation | Of all 317 Dutch nursing homes caring for demented patients asked to participate in this study investigating which concepts regarding the "good life" are used in their mission statements, 69% responded. Their mission statements were qualitatively analysed on content. Whether different types of nursing home differed significantly in the content of their mission statements was investigated by chi squared analyses. Six main concepts considered as important for a good life were found: autonomy and freedom; individuality and lifestyle; relationships and social networks; warmth, safety and familiarity; developing capacities and giving meaning to life; and subjective experiences and feeling of well-being. It was found that mission statements specifically developed for demented patients attach less importance to the concepts of autonomy and freedom, and individuality and lifestyle, than those also aimed at non-demented residents. Most mission statements turned out to be highly eclectic in content. Nursing homes with a separate statement for demented residents seem to acknowledge the special position of demented residents and the tension between dementia and the idea of autonomy. Although the eclecticism found in mission statements is understandable, a coherent view on the good life for demented residents should aim for a sound internal structure and make choices between values. Only then can mission statements provide real guidance for everyday care. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-050216205 A |
| Classmark | EA: LHB: F:59: IKR: D:F:5HH: 583: 3F: 76H |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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