Caring For Older People Living In Special Housing At End-Of-Life Stage - From The Perspectives Of Assistant Nurses

In Sweden, reforms in health and social care for older people were implemented in 1992 (Adel-reformen) and provided older people with the opportunity to be cared for in their own homes, under the responsibility of the local municipality. Most of the older people choose to live in their own home or in sheltered housing, a so-called special housing, for rest of their lives and are able to receive extensive nursing care, including palliative care. Thus, palliative care has shifted from care at hospitals to care in own homes or special housing, which has increased the demands placed on nursing staff. The aim of this study was to elucidate the meanings the nursing staff expressed as regards caring for older persons in special housing in a palliative stage. Qualitative interviews with eight assistant nurses were performed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. To care for an old person in the palliative stage means "Caring for a friend", "Creating a calm and peaceful death", "Giving support to relatives" and "Alternating between feelings of powerlessness and satisfaction". When an old person died, the assistant nurses mourned him or her as they would a friend. Amongst the colleagues, the assistant nurses experienced a sense of security, which meant openness and the courage to discuss and reflect upon their feelings, both during the care and after the death. Despite this, there was a need for more time to grieve after the death.