Preferring activities related to dignity, respect,
and listening may reflect the negative experiences
of Czech nurses. In the totalitarian period, only
the physical aspect of caring for an individual
was emphasised. A significant difference in opinions
between nurses in hospices and nurses in
homes for the elderly on implementing many of
the activities may be explained by current pressure
on reducing the number of nurses in Czech
social institutions. In many places in the Czech
Republic, cheaper and less qualified staff focused
primarily on the biological needs of the elderly
are hired (Cervenková et al, 2006). This may
cause a sceptical outlook on implementing the
activities of spiritual support in these institutions.