"NOTHING HEROIC, JUST KEEP GRANDMA COMFORTABLE": A STUDY TO EXPLORE THE MEANING OF COMFORT/SUPPORTIVE MEASURES FOR THE AGED PERSON WHEN RESUSCITATION AND/OR LIFE SUPPORT ARE NOT DESIRED OPTIONS, THEREBY MAKING MAINTENANCE OF COMFORT THE GUIDELINE FOR FURTHER TREATMENT AND MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS.
Contributors: Florence Heller Graduate School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 364
Subjects: Gerontology.; Social Work.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: A qualitative design of interviews and observations was used to probe the meaning of 'comfort' for an aged person once the parties involved had decided to withhold resuscitation interventions. Exploratory in nature, the study queried a total of 43 individuals and included aged persons living independently in the community, aged persons in a facility setting who had opted for a 'Do Not Resuscitate' policy, families of facility residents who have a requested a 'Do Not Resuscitate' status for their family member, and health care professionals who regularly deal with the aged in long-term-care settings.

Findings included a vast array of meaning attributed to the concept of comfort, much of it depending upon the background of the speaker. An additional major finding was that communication was very fragmented in every instance.

Recommendations included heightened communication between all parties involved and re-evaluation of social policies impacting upon aged persons in long-term-care.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-02, Section: A, page: 0639.

Thesis (PH.D.)--BRANDEIS U., THE F. HELLER GRAD. SCH. FOR ADV. STUD. IN SOC. WEL., 1993.

School code: 0541.