Abstract
Nursing home (NH) residents risk loneliness because of many losses. Nurse–patient interaction includes core aspects contributing to thriving and well-being among long-term NH residents. We performed a cross-sectional observation study of 188 residents 65 years and older from 27 NHs with ≥3 months’ residence. All had informed consent competence recognized by the responsible doctor and nurse and could converse. We asked “Do you sometimes feel lonely?” and used the Nurse–Patient Interaction Scale (NPIS) in face-to-face interviews. We identified associations between nurse–patient interaction and loneliness and investigated the prevalence of loneliness. Eighty-eight (47%) respondents reported loneliness often or sometimes and 100 (53%) rarely or never. Adjusted for sex and age, 10 of the 14 NPIS items were significantly correlated with loneliness. Loneliness is common among cognitively intact NH residents. Nurse–patient interaction associates with residents’ loneliness and might be important in alleviating loneliness.
Highlights
Worldwide, the number of people aged 60 years or older is increasing: those 80 years and older will increase more than the younger age group.[1]
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of loneliness and its association with nurseÀpatient interaction among cognitively intact Nursing home (NH) residents in Norway
Previous research discloses that loneliness relates to physical disabilities among NH residents; deficit in interaction with others often accompanies physical disabilities followed by a reduced ability to participate in social activities.31,52À54 Social relationships are a fundamental need in healthy old age; this especially concerns bonds derived from a network, attachment or belonging to a group.[55]
Summary
The number of people aged 60 years or older is increasing: those 80 years and older will increase more than the younger age group.[1]. Ageing is often accompanied by functional limitations and comorbidity,[2] which for many people leads to the need for health-care services and long-term care in nursing homes (NHs). The need for long-term NH care mainly result from high age, chronic illnesses, multiple diagnoses and persistent symptom burden.[3,4] relocation to NHs is mostly caused by dependence on help to carry out basic needs. NH stays result from numerous losses such as losing one’s home, partner, family, friends, and self-determination because of institutionalization; given such losses, the individual may realize that life is going to end,[5,6] and this may result in loneliness
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