Walk a fine line between meaningfulness or discomfort – the complexity of emotional communication: Presenter(s): Tanja Gustafsson, University of Borås, Sweden

The home care of older persons includes inter-personal interactions and communication needed to care for and respond to diverse needs of older people. Previous research has focused on emotional expressions of older persons and responses by nursing staff. Research on the meaning of the interaction in these sequences is sparse. Therefore, the aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning attached to sequences of emotional communication and the interaction during these sequences between older persons and nursing assistants during home care visits. A descriptive observational design was used. The data consisted of 44 audio recordings of real-life conversations between older persons and nursing assistants during home care visits. A hermeneutic phenomenological analysis was conducted. Preliminary results indicate sequences of emotional communication being a window of opportunities. The interaction that followed were linked to dual and sometimes incongruent meanings. Expressions being actively blocked or ignored could cause an increase of unpleasant emotions or distract away from negative feelings. Simultaneously, such conversations could both ease or add to the complexity of the interaction and communication. Conversations elaborating on the older persons’ emotions seemed to instill trust and create meaningfulness, at the same time as these situations contained unpleasant moments with sad or angry feelings. The risk for discomfort in these sequences could threaten the trust in the relationship. Conversations on older persons worries can be complex: the Findings: point to a fine line between meaningfulness and distress in these sequences. Unpleasant emotions call for attention and caution, these may need to be noticed at the same time as they cannot be forced out.