Titre
"Life goes on": Perspectives on the will to live from residents of Swiss long-term care facilities.
Type
article
Institution
UNIL/CHUV/Unisanté + institutions partenaires
Périodique
Auteur(s)
Bornet, M.A.
Auteure/Auteur
Jones, L.
Auteure/Auteur
Jox, R.J.
Auteure/Auteur
Bernard, M.
Auteure/Auteur
Ruedin, S.
Auteure/Auteur
Borasio, G.D.
Auteure/Auteur
Rubli Truchard, E.
Auteure/Auteur
Liens vers les personnes
Liens vers les unités
ISSN
1478-9523
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2024-10
Volume
22
Numéro
5
Première page
932
Dernière page/numéro d’article
937
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Langue
anglais
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Publication Status: ppublish
Résumé
While there is a growing body of literature on the wish to die in older patients, there is little research about their will to live. Exploring the subjective will to live (WTL) offers valuable insights into the patients' resources and motivations, which could help improving geriatric palliative care. The aim of this study was to examine, in long-term care facilities (LTCF), residents' definitions of and factors influencing their WTL.
Twenty residents (mean age 85.8 ± 10.3 years, 70% women) of 3 Swiss LTCFs gave informed consent and participated in semi-structured interviews about their WTL. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurrent themes (40% double coded).
The majority of residents reported that they had not thought about the WTL. Nevertheless, they had no difficulty in describing it as innate in their lives. They spontaneously mentioned factors that contributed to their WTL, classified into 5 themes: (1) relationships - primarily with family and health professionals, secondarily with other residents; (2) living situation - the LTCF as a necessary place providing care, constant professional presence, and security, yet necessitates inconveniences such as loss of independence; (3) personality factors - positive outlook on life or spirituality; (4) engagement in routines - organized activities and individual daily routines; and (5) health status - primarily related to functional health.
Examining WTL provides important insights into elements that are essential to take into account in planning care and promoting well-being in LTCF residents. The themes identified provide important starting points for improving life in LTCFs.
Twenty residents (mean age 85.8 ± 10.3 years, 70% women) of 3 Swiss LTCFs gave informed consent and participated in semi-structured interviews about their WTL. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurrent themes (40% double coded).
The majority of residents reported that they had not thought about the WTL. Nevertheless, they had no difficulty in describing it as innate in their lives. They spontaneously mentioned factors that contributed to their WTL, classified into 5 themes: (1) relationships - primarily with family and health professionals, secondarily with other residents; (2) living situation - the LTCF as a necessary place providing care, constant professional presence, and security, yet necessitates inconveniences such as loss of independence; (3) personality factors - positive outlook on life or spirituality; (4) engagement in routines - organized activities and individual daily routines; and (5) health status - primarily related to functional health.
Examining WTL provides important insights into elements that are essential to take into account in planning care and promoting well-being in LTCF residents. The themes identified provide important starting points for improving life in LTCFs.
PID Serval
serval:BIB_142F21E261DB
PMID
Open Access
Oui
Date de création
2023-01-08T10:36:32.232Z
Date de création dans IRIS
2025-05-20T19:33:33Z
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Nom
life-goes-on-perspectives-on-the-will-to-live-from-residents-of-swiss-long-term-care-facilities.pdf
Version du manuscrit
published
Licence
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Taille
249.37 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
PID Serval
serval:BIB_142F21E261DB.P001
URN
urn:nbn:ch:serval-BIB_142F21E261DB9
Somme de contrôle
(MD5):8c825591f7ddb3db96d39370b25b7098