Which characteristics of nursing home residents relate to factors influencing their dignity?

- Nursing home residents are vulnerable with regard to loss of personal dignity.
- Non-optimistic, male or heavily dependent residents are most likely to lose dignity.
- Residents with these characteristics should be given special attention.
- Understanding loss of dignity and its risk factors may lead to better care.

Aim of this study was to explore which characteristics of nursing home residents relate to factors influencing their dignity. Questionnaires containing the Measurement Instrument for Dignity AMsterdam - for Long-Term Care facilities (MIDAM-LTC) were administered to 95 nursing home residents, residing on the general medical wards of six nursing homes in the Netherlands. Associations between residents' characteristics and each MIDAM-LTC item as well as the total number of items considerably influencing dignity were calculated. Results showed that not being optimistic, being male and/or being heavily dependent predispose nursing home residents to have their dignity undermined. Residents with these characteristics should therefore be given special attention in the provision of dignity-conserving care. Age, cultural background, religion, length of stay and socioeconomic status were very rarely related to individual MIDAM-LTC items. Knowledge of associations between characteristics and factors undermining dignity can be used to raise nursing home staff's sensitivity toward these factors.