Constructive risk in the care of the older adult: a concept analysis

There is much talk within health care at present of the need to manage risk; indeed, it is a cornerstone of the Government's clinical governance policy (Department of Health (DOH), 1998). However, by only concentrating on the dangers associated with risk, the positive effects engendered in the process of taking calculated risk. By analyzing risk as a constructive concept, particularly in the care of the older adult, it is possible to not only identify those attributes that define the phenomenon, but also explore the necessary antecedents and consequences of pursuing this approach to care. Using the work of Walker and Avant (1998), model cases are used to illustrate how the concept may be recognized in practice.