Meaning and purpose in care home (nursing) life

Meaning and purpose in life are important aspects of the life experience of individuals. These aspects of life have often been studied using psychological and quantitative approaches addressing meaning and purpose across the life span. However, there is a dearth of studies of meaning and purpose in care home (nursing) life. This care sector has an important contribution to make nationally and internationally to the lives of older people who require long-term care. This study addresses the gap in the body of knowledge by exploring how to enhance meaning and purpose in the lives of care home (nursing) residents.This study of meaning and purpose in the lives of care home (nursing) residents was undertaken using an appreciative inquiry methodology. Two U.K. care homes (nursing) were the settings for the study; 20 residents and 25 members of staff were included in the sample of the study. The residents who participated in the study had moved into the care homes because of their physical disabilities. None of the residents who participated in the study had appreciable cognitive incapacity. Data were collected using life story interviews, structured interviews and focus groups. Data were constructed during the four stages of appreciative inquiry: Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny. The data were analysed using the Framework Analysis approach. The findings of the study provide clear definitions of meaning and purpose in care home (nursing) life. The knowledge generated addresses the required focus on the creation of opportunities for residents to flourish and optimise their potential in order to enhance meaning and purpose in their lives. The ways in which care home staff can support residents enhance meaning and purpose in their care home experience through the physical setting, valuing of residents’ identities, the dynamics of relationships, the focus of activities and the component of care are articulated. This study presents the benefits of appreciative inquiry dialogue as a way of enhancing meaning and purpose in the lives of care home residents