Nursing faculty pre-prints and post-prints http://hdl.handle.net/10315/900 2013-05-21T17:10:30Z 2013-05-21T17:10:30Z Daiski, Isolde http://hdl.handle.net/10315/18594 2013-05-08T17:49:01Z 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z

Perspectives of homeless people on their housing needs and approaches to ensure success Daiski, Isolde Recently there has been much public discourse on homelessness and its impact on health and quality of life. Housing is a major determinant of health and strategies are sought to get people off the streets. For maximum success it is important to first determine accurately the needs of those to be housed. As they live their own situations, their perspectives should be considered to ensure success. This paper discusses the findings from a research study on perspectives of homeless people regarding their experiences of homelessness. The research question was: What supports are needed for homeless people to get off the street? The study discussed is qualitative, descriptive, exploratory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with homeless individuals in a large Canadian city in 2005, regarding their needs and possible solutions to end homelessness. A thematic analysis was carried out on the data. Findings show that individuals’ experiences of homelessness deeply impact all aspects of their lives. Many barriers prevent the homeless from escaping the streets. The welfare system in place was often perceived as disabling and dehumanizing rather than helpful. Service provisions were frequently inappropriate and therefore unsuccessful. Those homeless for a long time fell into patterned cycles of shelter / street life, temporary employment / unemployment and sometimes temporary housing. Participants described the fragmented services provided as ineffective. They had many suggestions for strategies to avoid or escape homelessness. For service providers a power with rather than power over model of collaborative advocacy is proposed to serve this population more effectively, preserve / restore their dignity and invest resources wisely.

2008-01-01T00:00:00Z Jonas-Simpson, Christine Mitchell, Gail J. http://hdl.handle.net/10315/13759 2013-05-08T16:12:36Z 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z

Giving Voice to Expressions of Quality of Life for Persons Living With Dementia Through Story, Music, and Art Jonas-Simpson, Christine; Mitchell, Gail J. communication, listening, living with dementia, meaning, qualitative research, quality of life, understanding; meaning, qualitative research, quality of life, understanding; The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to give voice to expressions of quality of life for persons who live with dementia and who reside in long-term care, primarily on locked cognitive support units.With the assistance of music and art therapists, mediums of music and art were offered as a way for participants to further describe their quality of life. Eight key messages emerged from the descriptions about what life was like for the 17 participants: feeling content, importance of relationships, choosing an attitude for living on, feeling worthy, wishes for freedom amid restrictions, living with loss, struggles with thinking and communicating, and persisting with life patterns. The open-ended questions used in this study may be considered for future research as well as in practice with persons who live with dementia even in the latter part of their journey. Ultimately, it is hoped that the findings described here will enhance understanding of what life is like for persons living with dementia, in order to diminish any unnecessary suffering that can emerge with lack of understanding.

2005-01-01T00:00:00Z Jonas-Simpson, C. http://hdl.handle.net/10315/10011 2013-05-08T16:59:26Z 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z

Awakening to space consciousness and timeless transcendent presence (when caring for persons who are living dying or deeply grieving) Jonas-Simpson, C. Space consciousness is emerging as significant and necessary for the evolution of humanity according to spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle. Through space consciousness people become aware that we are timeless transcendent presence. This awareness is pronounced when with those who are living dying and their close others who are deeply grieving. Space consciousness and transcendent timeless presence in the context of living dying and deeply grieving are explored using nurse theorists’ works in dialogue with Tolle’s teachings.

2010-01-01T00:00:00Z McMahon, E. Jonas-Simpson, C. http://hdl.handle.net/10315/10010 2013-05-08T17:28:29Z 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z

The language of loss when a baby dies prior to birth: Cocreating human experience McMahon, E.; Jonas-Simpson, C. When a baby dies prior to birth, a woman and her family begin a life long journey of living and transforming with loss. The language used with families during times of devastating loss is important to reflect upon since, language has the potential to either intensify suffering or enhance the family’s experience of grieving. Words that affirm the meaning the baby holds for the family can provide comfort as families engage with the reality of lost hopes and dreams. Recognizing that healthcare professionals do not intend to harm families whose babies die prior to birth, the current authors offer this column as a vehicle for reflecting on the meanings of words used during this particular time of loss and grief. The authors further explore the role that the arts have to play in expressing loss and in helping others to understand.

2005-01-01T00:00:00Z