THE CARING CULTURE FOR OLDER PEOPLE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

A study of the culture and environment of caring among older people care providers including the policies and its interplay in the process of delivering care was conducted to develop an older people care culture theory. This study utilized focused ethnography which involves generating data by observing participants and the structure of an older people health facility in their natural setting. Administrative consent as well as individual participants' informed consent was acquired prior to the start of the study. Participant observation, dialogue and interview were utilized by the researcher and the research participants. Data analysis was done using the observations and dialogues on the caring governance which were transcribed in the individual journals of the researchers using NVIVO 11. Four major themes were generated: nurturing environment, flourishing milieu, thriving abode and unifying care. The elderly caring structure focused on the growth and empowerment of the older persons despite their limitations. These processes are developed through a nurturing-flourishingthriving-unifying environment. An eclectic combination and complementary relationship between the physic-social-psychological-spiritual components of the care provider, venue of care and the one cared for provides a focus on the support for the caring culture of older people.