Older adults’ lived experiences of caring relationships with home care nurses – being in an in-between restricted or enabled existential freedom

• Published in: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
• Main Authors: Karoline Lang Mathiesen, Elisabeth Lindberg, Kristina Nässén, Fiona Cowdell, Lina Palmér
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
• Subjects: home care; caring; caring relationship; older adults; existential freedom; phenomenology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2566201
• ISSN: 1748-2623; 1748-2631

Purpose The aim of this study is to describe the essential meaning of the phenomenon of caring relationships in home care for older adults in Denmark, based on their lived experiences of caring relationships with home care nurses. Methods Ten older adults receiving home care from registered nurses were interviewed, and a phenomenological analysis was conducted according to the methodological principles of the reflective lifeworld research approach. Results The essential meaning of the phenomenon is described as “being in an in-between state in which one's existential freedom is enabled or restricted”. This involves being forced to relate and adapt to home care nurses as freedom givers or freedom takers. This is explored further in the three constituents; Space for authenticity and vulnerability, creating conditions for existential freedom, and being in an in-between space between knowing and not knowing. Conclusions The phenomenon of caring relationships adds an important aspect to understanding well-being in home care for older adults. To live well in old age, existential concerns must be placed at the core of caring and older adults must be given the possibility to act freely and authentically in order not to feel like an object of care.