‘Like a prison without bars’: Dementia and experiences of dignity.

As I went to the library to look for an article, I picked up two journals which I find interesting to read. One was titled The American Journal of Clinical Nursing. When I was looking into the journal’s articles. I find it too much so I put it away and went to look at the other journal that I took from the nursing ethics shelf. And the cover title is Nursing Ethics an International Journal for Healthcare Professionals.
The author was doing research regarding dementia people living in Norwegian Nursing Home. Their experiences of dignity. And have they been deprived with their freedom. Is their voices are being heard, which for me is essential in providing care to all patients regardless of their mental capacity. Was the person was treated as individual or was more like an institution rather than a home. The research was done between March and December 2010. Participants were patients diagnosed with dementia by general practitioner and head nurse.
In order to the researcher to continue with the study a consent was obtained. Which is a good practise in order to gain patients trust. Then introduce my name so it would be easier to communicate with the patient or relative as well. To make them aware of what is going to happen and sometimes they are much willing to participate. RCN(2011) Informed consent is bound by ethical and legal frameworks, and the processes for obtaining it must be independently scrutinised and approved.
Formal interview was done to three resident in this unit, one 86-year-old man and two women aged 89 and 94 years. The unit consist of eighteen residents. Observation was also done in 3 months and it was themed ‘the patients’ ability to make decisions in their everyday life’. Patients were observed during every meal time, toileting, bathing and informal conversation with staff and also non-verbal statements. The researcher has been in the unit for 6-10 weeks in order to develop a trustful relationship with the residents. Duxbury,J(2000) Relationship do not just happen, one has to work at them, whatever the relationship, in order to make them work. The interviews lasted 30 minutes to an hour. Four other interviews were audio-taped but one respondent refused to be audio-taped so she has to takedown notes.
As the interview went on the interviewer found out that some healthcare provider have their own opinion and does not actually listen to the patient. They may have dementia but they have feelings too and that even if the staff were too busy, it doesn’t mean that