01.05.2013 Views

Klik hier om die volledige joernaal in PDF-formaat af te laai - LitNet

Klik hier om die volledige joernaal in PDF-formaat af te laai - LitNet

Klik hier om die volledige joernaal in PDF-formaat af te laai - LitNet

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>LitNet</strong> Akademies Jaargang 9(2), Augustus 2012<br />

was rather on how human dignity could be acknowledged for elderly Sesotho/Setswana<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuals conf<strong>in</strong>ed to residential care units. One should remember the con<strong>te</strong>xt for<br />

residential care facilities <strong>in</strong> South Africa, as these units are rarely fully subsidised by the<br />

government and experience numerous f<strong>in</strong>ancial constra<strong>in</strong>ts.<br />

Participants regarded c<strong>om</strong>passiona<strong>te</strong> st<strong>af</strong>f members who have an understand<strong>in</strong>g of the unique<br />

needs of every elderly <strong>in</strong>dividual as one of the first s<strong>te</strong>ps towards dignified liv<strong>in</strong>g conditions.<br />

St<strong>af</strong>f development and education were described as key to the expansion of st<strong>af</strong>f c<strong>om</strong>pe<strong>te</strong>nce.<br />

Consultation on all levels of care was regarded as foundational to respect. Respect implies<br />

that the <strong>in</strong>dividual is <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> all decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g processes. Through consultation and<br />

<strong>in</strong>clusion a residential care unit milieu could be crea<strong>te</strong>d that would reflect the culture and<br />

heritage of every elderly Sesotho/Setswana <strong>in</strong>dividual – a milieu where the serv<strong>in</strong>g of food is<br />

not only regarded as the fulfilment of a basic need, but as an occupation that could contribu<strong>te</strong><br />

to maximis<strong>in</strong>g quality of life; a milieu that not only allows cultural expression for the<br />

Sesotho/Setswana <strong>in</strong>dividual, but is also s<strong>af</strong>e and accessible; a milieu where mother-tongue<br />

c<strong>om</strong>munication would be a way to express emotions and allow occupational engagement.<br />

Respect could be shown when auton<strong>om</strong>y is gran<strong>te</strong>d for voic<strong>in</strong>g needs freely and collaborat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g. Respect implies unambiguous c<strong>om</strong>munication to reduce disorientation<br />

and ultima<strong>te</strong>ly allows for a democratic environment.<br />

Along the journey of explor<strong>in</strong>g the responses fr<strong>om</strong> the two NGT <strong>in</strong><strong>te</strong>rviews the researchers’<br />

understand<strong>in</strong>g of ”activity” and mean<strong>in</strong>gful activity participation expanded. Mean<strong>in</strong>g to life<br />

can be <strong>in</strong>stitu<strong>te</strong>d only when human dignity is acknowledged through the creation of a<br />

culturally appropria<strong>te</strong> milieu <strong>in</strong> the residential care unit. It was revealed that “culturally<br />

appropria<strong>te</strong> occupation” is of grea<strong>te</strong>r significance than simply provid<strong>in</strong>g elderly <strong>in</strong>dividuals<br />

with s<strong>om</strong>e culturally relevant activity to do. A culturally sensitive residential care unit should<br />

enc<strong>om</strong>pass the acknowledgment of human dignity by means of a client-centred approach.<br />

Human dignity, however, correla<strong>te</strong>s directly with quality of life. A secondary data analysis<br />

regard<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>i<strong>te</strong> connection between human dignity and quality of life was done<br />

accord<strong>in</strong>g to Kane and Kane’s “Themes of quality of life” (Cutler en Kane 2004). This<br />

revealed that the <strong>in</strong><strong>te</strong>raction between the environment and the <strong>in</strong>dividual would most<br />

def<strong>in</strong>i<strong>te</strong>ly contribu<strong>te</strong> to the ex<strong>te</strong>nt of quality liv<strong>in</strong>g that could be obta<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

Even though we as whi<strong>te</strong> Afrikaans-speak<strong>in</strong>g occupational therapists were ill-equipped to<br />

embark on this explorative journey, the qualitative research design enabled us to embrace a<br />

world outside the borders of our own frame of reference. The process enabled us to view<br />

quality of life <strong>af</strong>resh through the realisation of the <strong>in</strong>tr<strong>in</strong>sic relationship between dignified<br />

liv<strong>in</strong>g conditions, hav<strong>in</strong>g choices for occupational engagement, and human dignity. This<br />

journey allowed us to fulfil our role as advoca<strong>te</strong>s for social justice through client-centred<br />

practice and rela<strong>te</strong>d directly to the expansion of our cultural c<strong>om</strong>pe<strong>te</strong>nce.<br />

Key words: occupational therapy; culturally appropria<strong>te</strong> activities; Sesotho/Setswana elderly<br />

persons; human dignity; quality of life<br />

1. Inleid<strong>in</strong>g<br />

B<strong>in</strong>ne arbeids<strong>te</strong>rapie beskryf Townsend en Polatajko (2011:119) <strong>in</strong>dividue as<br />

aktiwi<strong>te</strong>itsverrigt<strong>in</strong>gswesens. Dit impliseer dat betrokkenheid <strong>in</strong> be<strong>te</strong>kenisvolle aktiwi<strong>te</strong>i<strong>te</strong> ’n<br />

585

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!