Life Situation of Aged Home-Nursing Clients

Abstract

We describe the life situation of elderly Finnish home-nursing clients (N = 50) on the basis of their own experiences and opinions of need-satisfaction. The purpose of the study, which was carried out as part of a nursing development project in the form of action research, was to gain a deeper understanding of the satisfaction of human needs and problems of need-satisfaction in aged people and on this basis to develop forms of nursing that support self-care. The data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire, which was designed primarily on the basis of the need theories of Yura and Walsh and Orem. The specific areas of inquiry included the clients' experiences of need-satisfaction in the promotion of physical health, emotional life, relations of communality, personal growth and development, and spiritual life. Overall the aged clients were relatively satisfied. However, in certain areas there were also unmet needs, notably in getting adequate nutrition, rest, and sleep, as well as in secretory activity. In addition, it seemed that loneliness caused considerable anxiety to the elderly home-nursing clients.