South African nurses' experiences of the concept of Activity, in nursing of elderly

Sammanfattning: Activities and relations are something that all people have in common. Throughout activity we fulfill some basic needs, which are necessary to regain physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing. The core of caring is to be found in the human nature to care for others, with a purpose to make the life and living to go on and to, out of ethical aspects, facilitate the creative processe of others in their striving to gain a good, beatiful and meaningful living. The aim of this study was to explore South African nurses' experiences of the concept of activity in elderly nursing care. Four nurses were interviewed in a group interview. The interview had semi-structured questions, allowing the respondents to talk, and have a discussion, about activity within an elderly context. The analysis was carried out using a phenomenological-hermeneutical method, inspired by Lindseth & Norberg and Grainheim & Lundman. Three themes came up from the analyze: Activities in Communion, Activities for Communion and Communion for Activities. According to the respondents the aim of all activity, including physical, mental and social, is to increase or maintain the elderlys quality of life. To gain this, the elderly need to feel increased sense of wellbeing, sense of being someone, dignity and appreciation, which is only possible in a communion. It is of great importance that the nurses try to reduce obstacles and meet the elderlys different needs for activity.