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Bland, M. F. (2004). All the comforts of home? A critical ethnography of residential aged care in New Zealand. Ph.D. thesis, , .
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Whitehead, N. (2007). Quality and staffing: Is there a relationship in aged residential care. Master's thesis, , .
Abstract: This thesis reports a mixed methods study, longitudinal in nature, of consenting Age Related Residential Care (ARRC) hospitals in the upper half of the North Island, which was conducted to examine several factors, including AARC hospital efficiency at producing adverse event free days for residents. An interpretativist approach examined what best practice strategies were implemented by the ARRC hospitals that were identified to be most successful at producing adverse event free days for the residents.
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Watson, S. (2001). Humane caring: Quality of life issues for those elderly people wanting to remain in their own environment. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: This thesis explores the issues surrounding the elderly remaining in their own environment and why remaining 'at home' becomes so essential for them. There are many elderly people who have moved to residential care settings on the advice of others. The author explores the implications of such moves through the stories of several elderly persons, and her own experiences as a nurse working with the elderly in institutional care.
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Lowe, P. (2007). A descriptive research study on factors that impact upon the quality of life of elderly women with comorbid chronic illnesses: Three women's perspectives. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: The aim of this research study is to explore factors that older women living with comorbid chronic illnesses identify as key to maintaining or improving their quality of life. This study uses a qualitative approach, with a descriptive methodology. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with three women over the age of 80 who had been diagnosed with more than one chronic illness. These interviews were audiotaped, and the data analysed using thematic analysis. What emerged from this analysis of older women was the need for them to create meaning in their life, which is further explicated through three main themes: (1) coping with changing health, (2) the impact of family, and (3) attitude. Attitude to life and having a positive outlook were all factors these participants expressed as being essential to maintaining their quality of life. The quality of life of these participants is enhanced by the ability of these women to create meaning in their life. They do this by integrating their wealth of past experience into their present, reflecting back on their lives, but still gaining enjoyment from the here and now.
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Brown, J. A. (2004). “Let my spirit always sing”: A descriptive study of how four elderly rest home residents view spirituality and spiritual care at the end of life. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: This descriptive, qualitative study, believed to be the first of its kind conducted in a New Zealand setting, focuses on spirituality issues of a spiritually vulnerable group of people, older people in residential care. Four rest home residents were recruited, to talk about their spirituality, spiritual needs and how their spirits were nurtured, the role of care staff in providing spiritual care, and their satisfaction with the spiritual care they were being offered. They were also asked to predict their spiritual needs as they were dying, their wishes for spiritual care in the perideath period, whether they had communicated these wishes to anyone, their views on advance planning to ensure these wishes would be met, and their comfort with the research process. The research data was collected from semi-structured, audiotaped interviews that were later transcribed. The spirituality of all participants had a strongly Christian focus that was revealed in the ten themes to emerge from a modified application of Colaizzi's analysis technique. The first themes to emerge were God as the focus of spirituality, God in control, the importance of relationship, and the purpose in life: serving God. Changes in spirituality with age, spirituality and residential care, and spiritual care: whose responsibility? were also identified as themes, as were end of life spirituality, planning for spiritual care, and the participants' satisfaction with the research process. All were able to articulate their spirituality, were generally satisfied with the spiritual care they were receiving, and had views on the spiritual care they wished to receive in the perideath period. Moreover, the participants trusted their families and the care staff to ensure that these wishes would be honoured. Recommendations are made for improving the spiritual dimension of care, and for further research.
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Gilmour, J. A. (2001). On the margins: Nurses and the intermittent care of people with dementia: A discourse analysis. Ph.D. thesis, , .
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Bland, M. F. (2005). The challenge of feeling 'at home' in residential aged care in New Zealand. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 21(3), 4–12.
Abstract: In this research report, a resident reveals the challenges associated with firstly becoming a nursing home resident, and then trying to establish a new sense of 'home'. The story supports a conclusion that nurses' knowledge of the unique 'admission story' of each resident, and their individual understandings of home, is essential in promoting their ongoing comfort. Although approximately 30,000 older adults live in residential aged care, little research has been done on their experience.
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Neville, S. J., & Alpass, F. (2006). Older men and worries: The impact on well-being. Available online from Eastern Institute of Technology, 14(1), 4–7.
Abstract: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between worries and psychological well-being, and self-rated health in older men. A cross-sectional survey method was used to investigate the research aim. A group of men aged 65 years and over (n = 217), who lived in a small New Zealand city, participated in this study. Results from this research revealed that worries about physical abilities and health were significantly related to a decrease in psychological well-being and self-rated health. Gerontological nurses are challenged to be cognisant of older men's concerns about their health and physical ability.
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Hendry, C., & East, S. (2013). Impact of the Christchurch earthquakes on clients receiving health care in their homes. Available through NZNO library, 4(1), 4–10.
Abstract: Eighteen months after the first of many large earthquakes, Christchurch-based home health care provider Nurse Maude surveyed staff to identify the impact on the well-being of their mainly elderly clients. Responses from 168 staff identified five key issues. These were: mental health, anxiety, and depression, symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); unsafe environments; loneliness and isolation; difficulty coping with change; and poor access to services. To meet the needs of clients in this challenging environment, staff felt they needed more time to care, including listening to stories, calming clients and dealing with clients who had become slower and more cautious. Damaged and blocked roads, and the fact that many clients moved house without warning, added to the time it took to deliver care in the home. This survey has helped Nurse Maude build on its initial post-earthquake responses to better meet the needs of clients and support health-care workers in this stressful environment.
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Davy, R. (2002). Strategy to increase smear testing of older women. Practice nurse: Official Journal of the New Zealand College of Practice Nurses, 2(3), 13–14.
Abstract: The author presents a project to increase enrolments of women aged 60-69 years in the cervical screening programme. The programme included provision of packages comprising fliers, counter signs, stickers, postcards and pens to 1387 women's groups or locations where women gather. The author collates and analyses calls to the advertised 0800 telephone number, smear tests at the Well Women's Nursing Trust, and enrolment rates on the Cervical Screening Register from June to August 2001.
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Challis-Morrison, S. (2006). Caring for a community wanderer. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 12(11), 20–22.
Abstract: A community based registered nurse from Waikato District Health Board's Older Persons Assessment Team (OPAT) presents her experiences of working with older people with dementia. She uses a case study approach to highlight the issue of wandering, behaviour which can be difficult to modify and can cause carer distress. She outlines a team approach to the condition which requires good communication and co-ordination. Key aspects of management included a risk assessment plan, support for caregivers, and encouraging activity.
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Kyle, W. (2001). The influence of technology in nursing practice with elder care facilities. Vision: A Journal of Nursing, 7(12), 20–23.
Abstract: This article firstly describes the application of technological care practices in elder care, and then looks at the attitudes of the elderly and their families towards this care. The value of the equipment in terms of quality of care is considered, and a discussion of the continuing education needs of nurses is presented. The ethical questions around the use of technology are examined, along with possible strategies to deal with such issues.
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Neville, S. J., & Gilmour, J. A. (2007). Differentiating between delirium and dementia. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 13(9), 22–25.
Abstract: Accurate nursing assessment is a critical element in the identification of health problems and treatment strategies for older adults who have delirium and/or dementia. This practice update provides information on the differentiation between these two debilitating and adverse health events, along with some useful assessment frameworks and other resources. Comments from people with delirium and dementia are interspersed throughout the article to draw attention to the impact of these conditions on people's lives and well-being. The article includes the 'A presenting concern framework', useful mnemonic devices to help nurses assess an older person who may have delirium or dementia, and a list of online resources.
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Mears, A. (2003). The role of the clinical nurse co-ordinator. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 6(3), 24–25.
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Fail, A. (1999). Ageing in the 21st century. Vision: A Journal of Nursing, 5(9), 24–31.
Abstract: The author looks at demographic and statistical information to extrapolate on trends that will affect the aged through into to the next century. She reviews policy approaches to the issues of a growing aged population combined with social and economic changes that could make this group vulnerable. Effective planning for the provision of quality care is placed in the context of social changes, advances in gerontology, and social theories of ageing.
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