The concept of dignity is core to community district nursing practice, yet it is profoundly complex with multiple meanings and interpretations. Dignity does not exist absolutely, but, rather, becomes socially (de)constructed through and within social interactions between nurses and older adult patients in relational aspects of care. It is a concept, however, which has, to date, received little attention in the context of the community nursing care of older adults. Previous research into dignity in health care has often focused on care within institutional environments, very little, however, explores the variety of ways in which dignity is operationalised in community settings where district nursing care is conducted ‘behind closed doors’, largely free from the external gaze. This means dignity (or the lack of it) may go unobserved in community settings. Drawing on observational and interview data, this paper highlights the significance of dignity for older adults receiving nursing care in their own homes. We will demonstrate, in particular, how dignity manifests within the relational aspects of district nursing care delivery and how tasks involving bodywork can be critical to the ways in which dignity is both promoted and undermined. We will further highlight how micro-articulations in caring relationships fundamentally shape the ‘dignity encounter’ through a consideration of the routine and, arguably, mundane aspects of community district nursing care in the home.

尊严的概念是社区护理实践的核心，但它非常复杂，具有多种含义和解释。尊严并非绝对存在，而是通过护士与老年患者在护理相关方面的社会互动中在社会互动中被社会（解）建构。然而，迄今为止，这个概念在老年人社区护理的背景下很少受到关注。以前对医疗保健中尊严的研究往往侧重于机构环境中的护理，然而，很少探讨尊严在社区环境中运作的各种方式，在社区环境中，地区护理是“闭门造车”进行的，基本上不受外部注视。这意味着尊严（或缺乏尊严）在社区环境中可能会被忽视。本文利用观察和访谈数据，强调了尊严对于在自己家中接受护理的老年人的重要性。我们将特别展示尊严如何体现在地区护理服务的相关方面，以及涉及车身的任务如何对提升和破坏尊严的方式至关重要。我们将进一步强调关怀关系中的微观表达如何通过考虑家庭社区护理的常规和可以说是平凡的方面从根本上塑造“尊严相遇”。本文强调了尊严对于在自己家中接受护理的老年人的重要性。我们将特别展示尊严如何体现在地区护理服务的相关方面，以及涉及车身的任务如何对提升和破坏尊严的方式至关重要。我们将进一步强调关怀关系中的微观表达如何通过考虑家庭社区护理的常规和可以说是平凡的方面从根本上塑造“尊严相遇”。本文强调了尊严对于在自己家中接受护理的老年人的重要性。我们将特别展示尊严如何体现在地区护理服务的相关方面，以及涉及车身的任务如何对提升和破坏尊严的方式至关重要。我们将进一步强调关怀关系中的微观表达如何通过考虑家庭社区护理的常规和可以说是平凡的方面从根本上塑造“尊严相遇”。