Conclusions
The meaning of R-ABC is to be exposed, but not passively. Rather, it
means to be self-determinant for as long as possible, to perceive the
body as lived and avoid objectification. Further, to take on responsibility
for judging the ANs work-load before asking for help.
Take home message
Older persons need to become increasingly invited as co- planners of
their own care, thereby using their competence acquired through a long
life, in order to perserve their personhood while R-ABC.
Introduction
Most older people living in nursing homes need R-ABC (assistance
while dressing, undressing, eating, maintaining personal hygiene and while being transferred). This conveys to be helped with things that
most people prefer to do in private, turning the older person’s body into an area, accessible to others in ways that would be unacceptable in
other contexts.
Aim The aim of the study was to elucidate meanings of receiving
assisted bodily care, as narrated by older persons living in a nursing home.
Method The study used a lifeworld design, focusing upon how the
older persons experienced their world. Narrative interviews with 12
older persons generated 28 interviews.The transcribed interviews were analyzed by use of a phenomenological hermeneutical method,
inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur.
Holmberg, B., Hellström, I., Norberg, A. & Österlind, J. (2019) Assenting to exposedness- meanings of
receiving assisted bodily care in a nursing home as narrated by assistant nurses. Scandinavian Journal of
Caring Sciences (in press, ahead of print)
Bodil Holmberg, RN, MNSc, PhD Student
Department of Health Care Sciences/ Palliative Research Centre
Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College
Address: Stigbergsgatan 30, SE 100 61 Stockholm, Sweden Email: bodil.holmberg@esh.se
Phone: +46 766-36 51 35
Results
The main theme ’Assenting to exposedness’ means to be exposed to others’ glances, touch and benevolence in an organisation that
limits the conditions under which one lives. The overall meaning is to be exposed. Before that, one can do nothing but assent. The theme comprised five themes.
To have hope in hopelessness
Means to recognise remaining bodily assets and receive help to
practice in order to increase self-determination, while simultaneously being aware that the life journey is nearing its end.
To relinquish one’s body into others’ hands
Means pleasure when experienced as soft, calm, warm, skilled and caring touch while talking about other things, which mutes the care needs. It means suffering when your wishes are neglected and the body is treated ’like a package’.
To be between power and powerlessness
Means to be able, to preserve self-determination by keeping trying to manage on one’s own. It means powerlessness when being without say, or feeling abandoned while waiting.
To oscillate between one’s own responsibility and demands
Means to judge situations and assent to circumstances predicted by others, but it also means uttering complaints about shortages in R-ABC, caused by organisational economic priorities.
To be in an ongoing interaction
Means having an equal and mutual fellowship with ANs, tinged by a joviality and closeness that normalises otherwise embarrassing
situations. On the other hand, it means loneliness and alienation when R-ABC is percieved mechanical, not attending to personal wishes about the delivery of assisted bodily care.
