The tasks of community nurse related to the needs of older people based on results of focus groups research conducted as a part of the European project PROGRESS: „Improving access to community-based services for older people in their households”

Introduction. Current demographic trends show that the process of aging in Europe and Poland is still going on. This cause a growing
demand for medical services and social services. The older people are the main beneficiaries of health care, especially of the nursing and
care system, which entails the reorganizing the system of care for the seniors in their households.

Aim of the study. The aim of this study is to define new tasks for the community nurse drawing from the needs and expectations of the older
people.

Material and methods. The two focused groups interviews conducted in the framework of the project „Improving access to communitybased
services for older people in their households” consisted of 6 older people and 11 representatives of various community care providers.

Results. Older people’s expectations focused on various community institutions are mostly addressed to community nurses. Participants of
two focus groups emphasize the important role of community nurse in the process of informing senior citizens about the possibilities of
obtaining care and the tasks of nurses in transmitting information to other community professionals of geriatric team. In community nurse’s
work apart from performing instrumental tasks it is particularly important to provide informational and emotional support for older people
and their families.

Conclusions. It is necessary to define the new tasks of nurse in caring for the older people.

Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (2): 239–243