title: Individuality in older people's care - challenges for the development of nursing and nursing management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore nurses' perceptions about individuality in older people's care.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Individualized care is enshrined in health-care policies and ethical and quality guidelines concerning older peoples' care but assessments of individualized care delivery are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a descriptive survey design, Individualized Care Scale questionnaires (n = 147) were used to collect data from 96 registered or licensed practical nurses (response 65%) working in the inpatient wards of four randomly selected long-term care hospitals in 2008. The questionnaires were analysed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses perceived that they supported older patients' individuality well in the clinical situation and maintained patients' decisional control over their care. Nurses also perceived that although they moderately supported their patients' personal life situation they did not actively encourage patients' families to take part in care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed some shortcomings in the maintenance of individuality in older peoples' care and the need to change the focus of care from reactive management to a proactive prevention orientation to improve the well-being of older people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to examine the care structures and processes and the role of nurse professionals in older peoples' care under the guidance of nurse leaders and managers.
authors: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. riisuh@utu.fi
authors: Riitta
authors: R
authors: Suhonen
authors: Minna
authors: M
authors: Stolt
authors: Markku
authors: M
authors: Puro
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010358:Patient Participation; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000451:nursing*; D055815:Young Adult