"No man is an island" - "Connectedness" and older people living in long-stay care settings
Adeline Cooney
NUI, Galway
Dr Adeline CooneyAdeline is a senior lecturer in nursing at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway. She has a clinical background in older people and medical nursing and has worked in nursing education for over 20 years. She teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate levels on a variety of topics including older people’s care and research methodologies. Her current research interests are in ageing, older people’s quality of life, the meaning of ‘‘home’’ for older people living in long-stay care settings, connectedness, dementia care and the use of reminiscence with people with dementia. Her methodological expertise is in qualitative research methodologies, in particular grounded theory. She has collaborated on a number of studies. Most recently on the DARES trial (DementiA Education Programme Incorporating REminscende for Staff)
Abstract
This grounded theory study examined residents, staff and the community’s understandings of connectedness and the factors which influenced (supported or inhibited) connectedness. Data were collected using semi-structured... [ view full abstract ]
This grounded theory study examined residents, staff and the community’s understandings of connectedness and the factors which influenced (supported or inhibited) connectedness. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with residents (n = 15), staff (n = 11), visitors (n = 12) and people in the community (n = 20). Although ‘connectedness’ is widely used in the literature, most frequently to describe social relationships, it remains an ambiguous concept. This study adds to what is known about this concept and helps clarify its meaning in context of care for older people living in long-stay care settings. It was found that connectedness was considered important but its meaning and how it could be fostered differed across groups. To some residents connectedness mattered to others was not as important. A number of factors were found to either enhance or diminish residents’ ability to remain connected. Examples of enabling factors included: personal preference, organisational culture/ethos and strong links with the local community. Examples of inhibiting factors included: (mis)understanding of connectedness, expectations, resources and the mental/physical capacity of the older person. Internal relationships (within the long-stay care setting) were found to be as important as external relationships (outside the long-stay care settings). “Connectedness” is an emerging concept. This paper will explore the meaning of connectedness as defined by study participants in context of how this concept is defined in the literature. A better understanding of the meaning of “connectedness” in long-stay care settings will help: (1) guide the development of strategies to promote resident connectedness and (2) promote awareness of this important concept and its relationship to positive resident outcomes.
Authors
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Adeline Cooney
(NUI, Galway)
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Mary Gannon
(NUI, Galway)
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Marcella kelly
(NUI, Galway)
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Dympna Casey
(NUI, Galway)
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Kathy Murphy
(NUI, Galway)
Topic Area
Lifecourse, older people or dementia
Session
OS-4B » OS-4 life course (10:15 - Tuesday, 31st March, Classroom 2)
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