Slettebø Å, Skaar R, Brodtkorb K. Social Innovation Toward a Meaningful Everyday Life for Nursing Home Residents: An Ethnographic Study.
Front Psychol 2021;
12:666079. [PMID:
34899454 PMCID:
PMC8656948 DOI:
10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666079]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The literature shows that innovation, which includes culture change, may be important to create a meaningful everyday life for nursing home residents. However, there is a gap in how social innovation practices may contribute to this. The theoretical discourse for the study is person-centered care.
Aim: The main aim was to explore phenomena within social innovation that can contribute to improving nursing home residents’ everyday lives.
Design and Method: This study uses an ethnographic design with observations and interviews in two nursing homes in Southern Norway.
Findings: The main theme was that social innovation within working practices in nursing homes includes phenomena that contribute to a meaningful everyday life for the residents. This main theme includes five subthemes: (1) opening the nursing home to the surroundings; (2) expanding and strengthening the community of practice; (3) facilitating customized activities; (4) ensuring sufficient nutrition and facilitating enjoyable mealtimes; and (5) preventing unrest and disturbing behavior.
Conclusion: The study reveals that innovation practices grounded in person-centered care in nursing homes may contribute to opening the nursing home to the community and establishing a common community practice for all members of the nursing home. This enables residents to experience meaningful everyday life through customized activities, sufficient nutrition, and a pleasant milieu during mealtimes. Disturbing behavior is also prevented, making it possible to promote meaningful lives in nursing homes.
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