Caregivers’ Experiences of Dignified Death in Nursing Care Home Residents

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze and interpret the meaning of dignified death for the elderly in nursing homes using phenomenological techniques for caregivers' experiences of caring practices. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with five caregivers who had worked in nursing homes for more than five years. Data were analyzed with the four stages of Giorgi's phenomenological qualitative research method. After analyzing the data, 25 meaning units, 6 sub-components, and 3 components were derived: 1) embracing death with love, with sub-components of ‘staring at death that was turned away’ and ‘facing the death of the elderly’; 2) finding meaning in the void, with sub-components of ‘experiencing the infinite in finite existence’ and ‘finding meaning that endures meaninglessness’; and 3) writing my history book in the present, with sub-components of ‘summoning the past buried in small talk’ and ‘performing a ritual of self-renewal’. This study concludes that the meaning and essence of the experience of dignified death for the elderly by caregivers who perform care work for the elderly in nursing homes are to provide opportunities for enjoyment and communication in the midst of daily life in nursing homes, to relieve the loneliness of the elderly, and to help the elderly feel satisfied with their lives in the closest place.