Adoption of an innovation based on the theory of gerotranscendence by staff in a Nursing home - Part III

This article presents an intervention involving introduction of the theory of gerotranscendence and practical guidelines derived from the theory. A qualitative method was used with triangulation of methods in data collection and analysis. Both the theory of gerotranscendence and the theory of innovation were used as frameworks in the analysis. Introducing this new perspective constituted an abstract intervention. It involved nursing staff changing their interpretations and values with respect to ageing and their treatment of older people in ways not compatible with extant values. The 'early adopters' were staff members who felt acquainted with the essential ideas of the theory because they perceived in themselves a personal developmental process in line with the theory. The innovation attributes, described in the innovation theory, explained some of the problems associated with adopting the guidelines.