Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Solving the ‘Personhood Jigsaw Puzzles’ in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in the Hong Kong Chinese Context

Kong, S.T.; Fang, C.M.S.; Lou, V.W.

Solving the ‘Personhood Jigsaw Puzzles’ in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in the Hong Kong Chinese Context Thumbnail


Authors

C.M.S. Fang

V.W. Lou



Abstract

End-of-life care studies on the nature of personhood are bourgeoning; however, the practices utilized for achieving personhood in end-of-life care, particularly in a cultural context in which interdependent being and collectivism prevail, remain underexplored. This study seeks to examine and conceptualize good practices for achieving the personhood of the dying elderly in residential care homes in a Chinese context. Twelve interviews were conducted with both medical and social care practitioners in four care homes to collect narratives of practitioners’ practices. Those narratives were utilized to develop an “end-of-life case graph.” Constant comparative analysis led to an understanding of the practice processes, giving rise to a process model of “solving the personhood jigsaw puzzle” that includes “understanding the person-in-relationship and person-in-time,” “identifying the personhood-inhibiting experiences,” and “enabling personalized care for enhanced psychosocial outcomes.” Findings show how the “relational personhood” of the elderly can be maintained when physical deterioration and even death are inevitable.

Citation

Kong, S., Fang, C., & Lou, V. (2016). Solving the ‘Personhood Jigsaw Puzzles’ in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in the Hong Kong Chinese Context. Qualitative Health Research, 27(3), 421-433. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316658266

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 25, 2016
Online Publication Date Aug 7, 2016
Publication Date Aug 7, 2016
Deposit Date Jun 15, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Qualitative Health Research
Print ISSN 1049-7323
Electronic ISSN 1552-7557
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 27
Issue 3
Pages 421-433
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316658266

Files

Accepted Journal Article (1.2 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
Kong, S.T. and Fang, C.M.S. and Lou, V.W. (2016) 'Solving the ‘personhood jigsaw puzzles’ in residential care homes for the elderly in the Hong Kong Chinese context.', Qualitative health research., 27 (3). pp. 421-433. © 2016 The Author(s). Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.




You might also like



Downloadable Citations