Öz
Aim: This research was planned as descriptive for the purpose of determining the attitudes of nursing home employees towards the elderly.
Method: The research was carried out in a nursing home in Istanbul between 1 Kasım 2020 – 1 Ocak 2021. While all health (N=198) and administrative staff working (N=204) in the nursing home (N=402) constituted the universe of the research, the sample consisted of health (n=147) and administrative staff (n=87) who worked between 1 Kasım 2020 – 1 Ocak 2021 and agreed to participate in the research (n=234) after being informed about the purpose, content and method of the research.
Research data were collected by using the "Sociodemographic Characteristics Information Form" created by the researcher and the "Attitude Scale Towards The Elderly" developed by Kogan (1961). The data obtained in the research were analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows 22.0 program. In the evaluation of the data, number, percentage, average and standard deviation were used as descriptive statistical methods. T-test, one-way analysis of variance and regression analysis were used to compare normally distributed data.
Results: 49.6% of the employees included in the research are in the age range of 40-49, 56% are male, 79.5% are married, 34.6% are high school graduates, 62.8% work in the health care unit. 58.5% of them work in shifts, 28.6% of them have been working in the institution for 10-15 years. 81.6% of the employees stated that they have a nuclear family type, 50.9% of them stated that there is no person over 65 years of age in the family, 67.8% of them stated that they do not live with an individual over the age of 65 in the family. It is determined that "the negative attitude" average score of the employees was 60.312±17.062 (Min=17; Max=118), "the positive attitude" average score was 75,205±16,109 (Min=28; Max=109), "the total attitude" average score was 150.893±22.210 (Min=77; Max=210). The negative attitude scores of women (x=63,981) were higher than the negative attitude scores of male (x=57,428) (t=2.965; p=0.003<0.05). Positive attitude scores of married people (x=74,285) were lower than positive attitude scores of singles (x=78,771) (t=-1.727; p=0.046<0.05). The negative attitude scores of the employees of the health care services unit were higher than those of the employees in the technical affairs unit (p<0.05). The positive attitude scores of the employees in the health care unit were found higher than those of the employees in the other units (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In our study, positive attitudes towards the elderly are found high, it is important to plan initiatives that support and develop positive attitudes in order to continue and increase the current situation. Since developing a positive attitude and providing quality care requires the knowledge, skills and equipment of the employees, it is necessary to plan the in-service training for the employees and to evaluate the training provided regularly. In addition, it is important that employees who will serve elderly individuals must undergo an evaluation process in terms of their attitudes towards the elderly as well as their professional knowledge, skills and equipment in the recruitment process.