Fostering dignity in the care of nursing home residents through slow caring

Background: Physical impairment and dependency on others may be a threat to dignity.
Research questions: The purpose of this study was to explore dignity as a core concept in caring, and
how healthcare personnel focus on and foster dignity in nursing home residents.
Research design: This study has a hermeneutic design.
Participants and research context: In all, 40 healthcare personnel from six nursing homes in
Scandinavia participated in focus group interviews in this study.
Ethical considerations: This study has been evaluated and approved by the Regional Ethical Committees
and the Social Science Data Services in the respective Scandinavian countries.
Findings: Two main themes emerged: dignity as distinction (I), and dignity as influence and participation (II).
Discussion: A common understanding was that stress and business was a daily challenge.
Conclusion: Therefore, and according to the health personnel, maintaining human dignity requires slow
caring in nursing homes, as an essential approach.