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- Fjelltun, Aud-Mari, et al.
(författare)
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Functional levels and nurse workload of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents : a comparative study.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 23:4, s. 736-747
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was twofold: to compare the functional levels of elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents, and to compare their nurses' physical and psychological workloads. In Norway, the demand for nursing home placement has increased greatly. Elderly awaiting placement can receive care from home health care services and/or from their families. Documenting elderly's functional levels may illuminate the extent of the carers' workloads and the need for support during the waiting period. The study was conducted in 2005 on two groups in northern Norway. Using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale to assess functional levels, one group of nurses assessed elderly awaiting nursing home placement (n = 36) and another group of nurses assessed nursing home residents (n = 47). The nurses also reported physical and psychological workloads in caring for these elderly. A comparison of the functional levels between elderly awaiting nursing home placement and nursing home residents showed few statistically significant differences. Nursing home residents had two lower motor functions, needed more assistance with activities of daily living, more regular administration of enemas, were more often unable to speak, and showed lower orientation levels. Clinically significant similarities were found in five motor functions, including rising from lying to sitting, rising out of bed and walking, and in behavioural and psychiatric symptoms. Both groups of elderly had a high prevalence of sadness and fearfulness. The results of this study indicate that elderly awaiting nursing home placement can be as frail as nursing home residents. These results highlight the elderly's need for assistance and reveal the need for more nursing home beds. Nurses in home health care and nursing homes rated physical and psychological workloads similarly. As many carers provide care 24 hours a day, these results also illuminate the need to support carers during the waiting period.
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| 2. |
- Fjelltun, Aud-Mari Sohini, et al.
(författare)
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Carers' experiences with overnight respitecare : a qualitative study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Vård i Norden. - 0107-4083 .- 1890-4238. ; 29:3, s. 23-27
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim The aim of this study was to explore experiences with overnight respite care (ORC) of Norwegian carers who provided care to frail elderly awaiting nursing home placement. Background In many Western countries respite care has become part of health care service provision, and various types of respite care are available. The intent with respite care can be twofold; caring for the care receiver and supporting the carer. Methods This was a descriptive qualitative study. Interviews were conducted with 15 carers, transcribed and analysed by qualitative content analysis. Findings The carers described various experiences with ORC. If ORC supported the family unit, it was welcomed by carers and experienced as supportive. If ORC did not support the family unit, many carers rejected ORC, and it was experienced as non-supportive. Two categories were constructed: 'experiencing ORC as supportive for the family as a unit' and 'not experiencing ORC as supportive for the family as a unit'. Conclusion To support more carers, nurses have to listen to carers’ experiences about ORC. Nurses need to take responsibility for the family as a unit and provide more flexible ORC services based on both carers’ and elderly’s needs.
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| 3. |
- Fjelltun, Aud-Mari Sohini, et al.
(författare)
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Nurses' and carers' appraisals of workload in care of frail elderly awaiting nursing home placement.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 23:1, s. 57-66
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: The aim of this study is to describe carers' and nurses' appraisals of workload in care of frail elderly awaiting nursing home (NH) placement. BACKGROUND: Carers' workload of care for frail elderly awaiting NH placement has been studied separately from that of nurses' workload. The literature neither addressed a comparison of carers' and nurses' appraisals of psychological and physical workloads nor the most strenuous factors common to the workloads of both nurses and carers in care of the same elderly person. The terms 'carers' and 'nurses' in this paper refer to informal caregivers and to both enrolled nurses and Registered Nurses respectively, when no particular one is stated. METHOD: The sample comprised 11 nurses and 11 carers paired based on care provided to the same elderly person awaiting NH placement in Norway. Data collected by a workload-scale was analyzed by descriptive statistics. Data collected by individual interviews were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Carers' and nurses' appraisals of workload were compared and contrasted and most strenuous factors described. FINDINGS: The findings show that both carers and nurses rated workload levels maximum. Carers' highest ratings concerned psychological workload, while nurses' highest ratings concerned physical workload. The workload ratings concerning elderly with advanced dementia disease were most similarly aligned. Qualitative content analysis showed three categories that describe the most strenuous factors common to the workloads of both carers and nurses. These were feeling responsible, burdened and ambivalent. CONCLUSION: This study reports carers' and nurses' appraisals of workload in care of frail elderly awaiting NH placement. The results show many similarities and some differences. These results may help guide policy development to address resource allocations to elderly care. Further research is needed to address workloads of care for elderly awaiting NH placement.
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| 5. |
- Normann, Hans Ketil, et al.
(författare)
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People with severe dementia exhibit episodes of lucidity : A population-based study
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 15:11, s. 1413-1417
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims and objectives. To describe frequency and characteristics of people with severe dementia who according to care providers, exhibit ELs in a population of those with dementia in institutional care.Background. There are reports in the literature concerning episodes when the resident unexpectedly says or acts in a way that surprises the care provider because the resident seems to be much more aware of her/his situation than usual. This is labelled ‘episodes of lucidity’ (ELs).Design. The study is based on data from a point prevalence study from institutions for the older people in northern Sweden in May 2000.Methods. Out of 3804 residents, assessed by key care providers, by means of the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS) with questions about ELs added, 92 residents were found to have severe dementia and difficulties with verbal communication. The key care providers’ competence in assessing severe dementia was not evaluated. An ethics committee approved the study.Results. Fifty-two residents (57%) were assessed as exhibiting ELs. Residents who showed ELs had higher orientation scores and expressed more emotions than residents who did not show ELs. More residents who exhibited ELs took outdoor walks with their care providers exhibited ELs than those who did not (P = 0·001).Conclusions. Every second resident with severe dementia and difficulties with verbal communication showed ELs.Relevance for clinical practice. The fact that every second resident with severe dementia and difficulties with verbal communication showed ELs and that this was noticed especially when care providers took outdoor walks with the residents imply that closer contact between care providers and residents with severe dementia could change the care providers’ expectations and enhance communication between the parties.
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