Centre for Policy on Ageing



Dignity and the challenge of dying in nursing homes — the residents' views
Author(s)	Sabine Pleschberger
Journal title	Age and Ageing, vol 36, no 2, March 2007
Pages	pp 197-202
Source	http://www.ageing.oupjournals.org
Keywords	Dying ; Terminal care ; Nursing homes ; Attitude ; Residents [care homes] ; Qualitative Studies ; Germany.
Annotation	A qualitative study of 20 older people in nursing homes in western Germany which used a Grounded Theory Approach showed that examination of dignity has great potential to illustrate the challenges of end-of-life care in this field. Differentiation was made between intrapersonal dignity and relational dignity, socially constructed by the act of recognition. Dignity is challenged most by the threat of illness and having care needs. This is fostered by the perception of insufficient care in the nursing homes. In the light of this concept, a dignified death means "death at the right time" - though the residents in the sample did not wish to influence time of death. Overall, the study emphasises the high vulnerability of nursing home residents with regard to dignity. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-070503211 A
Classmark	CX: LV: LHB: DP: KX: 3DP: 767
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.