Reconceptualising Dignity-Centred Care for Hospitalised Older Adults: A Discursive Theoretical Analysis Using the...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Care
• Nursing Theory
• Patient Dignity

Background:

• Hospitalised older adults face dignity erosion due to health issues, communication barriers, and loss of autonomy.
• Dignity is multifaceted, encompassing self-worth, accomplishments, and associations.
• Existing frameworks lack comprehensive approaches to dignity-centred care for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a conceptual model for dignity-centred care for hospitalised older adults.
• To utilize Levine's Conservation Model as a theoretical foundation.
• To address conceptual ambiguity and skills gaps in dignity-centred care.

Main Methods:

• A discursive approach was employed.
• Extensive literature search across five databases and grey literature.
• Focused on patient dignity, dignified care for older adults, and Levine's Conservation Model.

Main Results:

• Dignity encompasses inherent self-worth and acquired value.
• Key components of dignified care include respect, autonomy, privacy, symptom management, communication, and patient involvement.
• The proposed model integrates Levine's conservation principles to mitigate dignity threats in hospitalised older adults.

Conclusions:

• The conceptual model provides a practical framework for healthcare professionals to uphold older adults' dignity.
• This theory-informed model can guide policy development and training programs.
• It offers a structured approach to advance dignity-centred care in clinical practice.