Good care to older persons: Perceptions of managers, nurses, caregivers and older persons

Different studies have been conducted regarding the quality of care provided to older persons. However, at the onset of this study in South Africa, a developing country, it was not clear what the perceptions are of managers, nurses, caregivers, and older persons regarding good care to older persons. The following research question, indicating the need and unique contribution of this study, was formulated: What are the perceptions of managers, nurses, caregivers, and older persons, regarding good care to older persons in residential facilities in South Africa?

A qualitative descriptive design was followed. Demographic information was obtained from managers (n = 7), nurses and caregivers (n = 35), and older persons (n = 48) in residential facilities (n = 3) for older persons. They also wrote naive sketches by completing six open-ended sentences regarding good care to older persons. Data were collected from August 2021 until April 2022. The naive sketches were analysed using content analysis.

Perceptions of good care to older persons were categorised into the following themes: providing holistic care to older persons, recognising the individuality and autonomy of older persons, upholding values associated with good care to older persons, building good relationships with older persons, challenges that affect good care to older persons, and opportunities that will assist in providing good care to older persons.

The findings of our study provided a rich understanding of good care to older persons. Programmes to facilitate good care to older persons can be designed and developed for formal and/or in-service training using our findings. Practical guidelines and practices to promote good care to older persons need to be included in these programmes. When managers, nurses, and caregivers, follow these practical guidelines, and internalise these practices, it will empower them to provide good care to older persons.

The North-West University Health Research Ethics Committee (NWU-HREC) approved this study on 30 September 2019 with ethics number: NWU-00034-19-A1. Written, informed consent was given by all participants.