The personal dignity of Dutch nursing home residents during COVID-19: a cross-sectional, quantitative pilot study

Purpose Ensuring personal dignity is a vital aspect of treatment and care of nursing home residents. If not respected, it can lead to significant negative consequences for their mental health. This study aimed to gain insight into the dignity experienced by Dutch nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the factors influencing this sense of dignity. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a cross-sectional, quantitative pilot study involving 66 nursing home residents. The MIDAM-LTC questionnaire on dignity for long-term care facilities was used, along with a questionnaire that assessed limitations in daily activities and a questionnaire with resident characteristics. Findings An optimistic attitude towards life and older age appeared to positively influence personal dignity. Conversely, factors such as more frequent family visits, having a Dutch background, being female and a greater degree of care dependency negatively impacted personal dignity. Among these factors, an optimistic outlook appears to be the most effective safeguard for maintaining personal dignity. Research limitations/implications During COVID-19, inclusion of participants had been challenging due to lock-down restrictions. Besides, the study mainly took place in nursing homes in the western part of the Netherlands. Furthermore, care workers actively approached the participants, which may also have led to selection bias. Originality/value Perceived personal dignity of elderly residents in nursing homes is affected by psychological, social and cultural factors. This highlights the need for a personal, culturally sensitive and value-oriented approach to care in nursing homes.