Meaning is embedded in the person’s lifeworld and must be understood

in the context of “a before” and “a next” (Galvin & Todres, 2013). To understand next of kin’s vulnerability, attention to how the changes affect everyday life is demanded. Furthermore, attention must be paid to how the changes influence previous expectations and plans, and what is possible now and in the future. Policy documents (Report No. 47 [2008–2009] to the Storting, Report No. 29 [2012–2013], and Report No. 10 [2012–2013]) address the need to humanize care. However, an increasing focus on efficiency and cost containment in the prevailing caring practices seems to be a serious threat to this ambition (Bauer et al., 2009; Hvalvik & Dale, 2013; Vabø, 2012). A humanized

practice means to see the patient (or the next of kin) in both their agency and vulnerability (Galvin & Todres, 2013). This is in accordance with the next of kin’s wishes in our study. They strongly wanted to Selleckchem AG 14699 be involved and share information in the transition process, and although their vulnerability was less obvious, their desire to be seen as human beings was inherent in their stories. It is crucial that health care professionals acknowledge the humanizing dimension when they consider the complexity of next of kin’s lived situation. Strengths and limitations of the study A phenomenological hermeneutic approach was considered relevant as the aim of this study was to illuminate and gain insight in next of kin’s experiences. Narrative interviews were conducted. This is an appropriate method for disclosing the meaning of lived experience (Lindseth first & Norberg, 2004). find more Those who chose to participate in the study were resourceful and had strong meanings about the transition process; they were mainly daughters. Overall, this may be considered a limitation of the present study. However, their ability to express and describe their experiences resulted in rich amounts of data, which may be regarded as

a strength. During the whole research process, the two researchers tried to be conscious of and challenge their pre-understanding. In order to arrive at possible interpretations, rigour was endeavoured throughout the process. A text has never only one meaning (Ricoeur, 1976). The comprehensive understanding of the present study is therefore only one of many possible interpretations. It is, however, the one that the two researchers found most probable and meaningful. Conclusion Our findings suggest that lack of involvement in the transition process strongly influenced next of kin’s lived experiences and made them vulnerable. Incomplete communication among health care providers and across the health care sectors during the transition made the next of kin uncertain and worried. However, in striving to maintain continuity and safety in the older person’s life, they demonstrated strength and were significant agents in the transition process.