Applying Watson's Theory for Caring among elders

Caring is emerging as a significant concept for the nursing profession, and it is rapidly influencing nursing practice. In older adult care, where reductionistic medical cures are often not wanted or necessary, it seemed timely to take a closer look at Dr. Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring. The author and a volunteer used a particular format designed by Lee Glickstein called "Laughing Spirit Listening Circles" to apply Watson's theory with six elderly women weekly over a four-week period. The main goals the volunteers had in creating this group was simply to listen to the women share their stories with one another, to be as present with them as possible, to not be directive in the group, but to be "in the flow" with whatever topics and issues emerged. Another purpose the author had in conducting these sessions was to receive feedback from the participants regarding this style of nursing practice. At the last session participants offered comments regarding their experience in this group with suggestions for how to include others. Unsolicited, the participants had much to say regarding their own personal experience at the retirement community around this issue of "presence" and "caring."