title: The importance of 'approaching' older people: a grounded theory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify and describe the ethical values in caring encounters as experienced by older patients in their daily interaction with nurses in wards for older people.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ethical values and morals are important aspects that influence the quality of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Empirical observational study including follow-up interviews. Twenty-two older patients participated voluntarily in this study. Constant comparative analysis, the core foundation of grounded theory was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five categories: being addressed, receiving respect, desiring to participate, increasing self-determination and gaining self-confidence formed the bases for the core category. APPROACHING: Approaching concerns how people become closer to each other in a physical space. It also includes how people become closer to each other in a dialogue, involving verbal or bodily communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approaching indicates the ethical values that guide nurses in their caring encounters with older patients. These values are noted by the patient and have an individual value as well as leading to improved quality of their care. The older patient will be confident and satisfied with the caring encounter if the desired components in the nurse's approaching are exhibited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, School of Health Sciences, University of Jönköping, Sweden. lise-lotte.jonasson@hhj.hj.se
authors.forename: Lise-Lotte
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Jonasson
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berterö
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D009014:Morals; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care