Nourishing the Spirit in Long Term Care: Perspectives of Residents and Nursing Assistants on Sources of Meaning in Residents' Lives

ABSTRACT A model of spirituality guided construction of interview questions that obtained information from nursing home residents and nursing assistants about opportunities to seek meaningful connections within the self, with other persons and the world, and with God. Interpretive analysis of the transcripts revealed that although nursing assistants regard their caregiving activities as significant sources of meaning, residents do not share this perception. Sources of meaning noted by both groups included personal memories, interactions with family and friends, opportunities to help others, treasured personal objects, and religious beliefs and behaviors. Implications for nursing assistant training are discussed, particularly regarding ways to encourage nursing assistants to attribute meaning to their work by recognizing the ways residents experience spirituality.