Enhancing dignity in older persons in Sweden : adaptation of the Dignity Care Intervention

Abstract

Background : In end of life, the older persons´ experiences of dignity can be affected due to serious illness and life changes, derived from physical, psychological, social and existential dimension. Loss of dignity impact the persons´ will to live. The Dignity Care Intervention (DCI) was developed and tested in Scotland and Ireland, to enhance dignity of older persons with palliative care needs, by nurses in municipality care. DCI consists a patient dignity inventory, reflective questions and examples of evidence-based care actions. The aim was to develop and adapt the DCI to a Swedish context. Methods: The patient dignity inventory was overall accepted by older persons in home care, however some changes in the wording were performed. The Swedish care actions reflected mostly earlier care actions described in the original version. However some more care actions derived in some of the categories in the Swedish DCI (DCI-SWE) e.g. “social support”, and some less care actions derived for example in the category “aftermath concerns”.  In DCI-SWE general care actions like e.g. to show respect were concretized unlike the original DCI. Conclusions: The DCI-SWE has prospects to enhance older persons´ dignity, and is now tested in a feasibility study by twelve nurses in home care.Dignity Care Projec