Growing Old with Dignity: a Concept Analysis

The term 'dignity' describes an attitude and approach to people that is integral to caring (Carper 1978), and users of healthcare services should expect their dignity to be respected at all times (Department of Health 1996). This article analyses the concept of 'dignity' as it relates to older people receiving care and promotes the use of concept analysis as a way of making sense of the intricacies involved in working with older people. The framework developed by Norris (1982) facilitates the examination of abstract knowledge and ways of knowing, and acknowledges humanistic and holistic perspectives of nursing. It is used here as a means of connecting theory with the real world of nursing.