Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dignity and the Fourth Age

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Human Dignity

  • 759 Accesses

Abstract

This study examine a series of policy documents related to the aging population, and in particular the oldest old, in order to highlight how the concept of dignity is used. Through a detailed textual analysis, the policy documents will be analyzed in order to point out the association of the concept of dignity with other related concepts and in reference to the oldest old population. Reporting quotes from the actual documents the meanings attributed to dignity will be discussed in the light of the relevant literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    When a Federal document was available, National documents were ignored in order to have a diversity of countries included.

  2. 2.

    The search was done using the term “oldest”, “oldest old” and other references to this age group such as “oldest Australians”, “in the oldest age classes”, etc. Various types of expressions with the numerical reference (80, 85) for this age group were included, such as 80+, 85+, “people aged 80 years and over”, “those over 80”, “those aged 85 years or more”, etc.

References

  • Anderberg, P., Lepp, M., Berglund, A., & Segesten, K. (2007). Preserving dignity in caring for older adults: A concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 59, 635–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baillie, L., & Matiti, M. (2013). Dignity, equality and diversity: An exploration of how discriminatory behavior of healthcare workers affects patient dignity. Diversity and Equality in Health and Care, 10, 5–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beach, M. C., Sugarman, J., Johnson, R. L., Arbelaez, J. J., Duggan, P. S., & Cooper, A. (2005). Do patients treated with dignity report higher satisfaction, adherence and receipt of preventive care? Annals of Family Medicine, 3, 31–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chochinov, H. (2006). Dying, dignity, and new horizons in palliative end-of-life care. CA: Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 56, 84–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chochinov, H. (2007). Dignity and the essence of medicine: The A, B, C, and D of dignity conserving care. British Medical Journal, 335, 184–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chochinov, H. M. (2013). Dignity in care: Time to take action. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 46(5), 756–759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chochinov, H., Hack, T., McClement, S., et al. (2002). Dignity in the terminally ill: An empirical model. Social Science and Medicine, 54, 433–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commission of the European Communities. (2007). Healthy ageing: keystone for a sustainable Europe. http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_information/indicators/docs/healthy_ageing_en.pdf.

  • Department of Health. (2001). The national service framework for older people. UK https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/198033/National_Service_Framework_for_Older_People.pdf.

  • Fagermoen, M. S. (1997). Professional identity: Values embedded in meaningful nursing practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25, 434–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitchett, G., Emanuel, L., Handzo, G., Boyken, L., & Wilkie, D. J. (2015). Care of the human spirit and the role of dignity therapy: A systematic review of dignity therapy research. BMC Palliative Care, 14(8), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, A., Li, S., Wainwright, P., Jones, I. R., & Lee, D. (2008). Dignity in the care of older people: A review of the theoretical and empirical literature. BMC Nursing, 7, 11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin-Heslin, V. L. (2005). An analysis of the concept dignity. Accident and Emergency Nursing, 13, 251–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, S., Longhurst, S., & Higginson, I. (2009). Living and dying with dignity: A qualitative study of the views of older people in nursing homes. Age and Ageing, 38, 411–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harwood, R. H. (2007). Evaluating the impact of the national service framework for older people; Qualitative science or populist propaganda? Age and Ageing, 36, 483–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, A. H., Chan, C. L., Leung, P. P., Chochinov, H. M., Neimeyer, R. A., Pang, S. M., & Tse, D. M. (2013). Living and dying with dignity in Chinese society: Perspectives of older palliative care patients in Hong Kong. Age and Ageing, 42, 455–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, N. (2009a). Dignity violation in healthcare. Qualitative Health Research, 19, 1536–1547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, N. (2009b). A taxonomy of dignity: A grounded theory study BMC international health human rights. 9, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jormsri, P., Kunaviktikul, W., Ketefian, S. et al.. (2005). Moral competence in nursing. Nursing Ethics, 12, 582–594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lothian, K., & Philp, I. (2001). Care of older people. Maintaining the dignity and autonomy of older people in the healthcare setting. British Medical Journal, 322, 668–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macklin, R. (2003). Dignity is a useless concept it means no more than respect for persons or their autonomy. British Medical Journal, 20, 1419–1420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People. (2013). The national positive ageing strategy. Ireland http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/National_Positive_Ageing_Strategy_English.pdf.

  • Ministério da Saúde. (2004). Programa Nacional para a Saúde das Pessoas Idosas (National Plan for older pople’s health). Portugal https://www.mindbank.info/item/5188.

  • Ministerio de la Protección Social. (2007). Politica Nacional de Envejecimiento y vejez 2007-2019 (Aging and Elderliness National Policy 2007-2019). Colombia. https://www.minsalud.gov.co/Documentos%20y%20Publicaciones/POL%C3%8DTICA%20NACIONAL%20DE%20ENVEJECIMIENTO%20Y%20VEJEZ.pdf

  • Morris, J. (2010). Human rights and healthcare: Changing the culture. Age and Ageing, 39, 525–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordenfelt, L. (2003). Dignity of the elderly: An introduction. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 6, 99–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pang, D., Senaratana, W., Kunaviktikul, W., Klunklin, A., & McElmurry, B. J. (2009). Nursing values in China: The expectations of registered nurses. Nursing and Health Sciences, 11, 312–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pleschberger, S. (2007). Dignity and the challenge of dying in nursing homes: The residents view. Age and Ageing, 36, 197–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Presidência da República. (2003). Plano de Açao Internacional para o Envelhecimento (Internactional Action Plan for aging). Brazil http://www.observatorionacionaldoidoso.fiocruz.br/biblioteca/_manual/5.pdf.

  • President and Parliament of Zimbabwe. (2012). Older person act of Zimbabwe: 1678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pullman, D. (1999). The ethics of autonomy and dignity in long-term care. Canadian Journal on Aging, 18, 26–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tadd, W., Bayer, T., & Dieppe, P. (2002). Dignity in health care: Reality or rhetoric. Review in Clinical Gerontology, 12(1), 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tadd, W., Vanlaere, L., & Gastmans, C. (2010). Clarifying the concept of human dignity in the care of the elderly: A dialogue between empirical and philosophical approaches. Ethical Perspectives, 17(1), 253–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, G. N., & Chochinov, H. M. (2008). Dignity-based approaches in the care of terminally ill patients. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care 2008, 2, 49–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UN. (1991). United nations principles for older persons. United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN. (2002a). IV the demographic profile of the older population. In UN world population aging: 1950–2050 (pp. 23–27). United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN. (2002b). Political declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging. http://www.un.org/en/events/pastevents/pdfs/Madrid_plan.pdf.

  • Walsh, K., & Kowanko, I. (2002). Nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of dignity. International Journal of Nursing Practices, 8, 143–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woolhead, G., Calnan, M., Dieppe, P., & Tadd, W. (2004). Dignity in older age: What do older people in the United Kingdom think? Age and Ageing, 33, 165–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Sources

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CRIS – Centro di Ricerca e Intervento Sociale, APS (Social Research and Intervention Centre, NGO), Perugia, Italy

    Isabella Paoletti

Authors
  1. Isabella Paoletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isabella Paoletti .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Justice Studies, Lasell College, Framingham , Massachusetts, USA

    Edward Sieh

  2. Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology , Auckland, New Zealand

    Judy McGregor

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Paoletti, I. (2017). Dignity and the Fourth Age. In: Sieh, E., McGregor, J. (eds) Human Dignity. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56005-6_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56005-6_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-56004-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-56005-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation