This thesis presents a study about the experience of becoming a nursing home resident as it affects the identity and self-esteem of very old persons. / In a qualitative study with six female residents of an English-speaking Centre d'Acceuil in Montreal, themes are explored in the light of theory about the effects of institutionalization. Consideration is given to the dynamics of relationships with family, friends, peers and staff. Loss of autonomy is singled out as the factor having the most impact on the individuals in the study. / As life draws to a close, each of the women interviewed struggles in her own way with conflict between the value of self-determination and the value of acceptance of dependence on others. The author suggests that the attempt to reconcile these two values may be a "life-task" for very old institutionalized persons. Questions are raised at the level of planning for institutional policy and a direction is indicated for the education of social workers planning to work with an elderly clientele.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.22709 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Parfitt, Mary |
| Contributors | Stainton, Timothy (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Social Work (School of Social Work.) |
| Rights | © Mary Parfitt, 1995 |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001467539, proquestno: MM05510, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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