Introduction: In Sweden new national guidelines for elderly care have been introduced containing core values and local guarantees of dignity that highlight the need for dignity, well-being and the organisation of the older person’s daily life so it is perceived as meaningful. Unit leaders play a crucial role in health care organisations when guidelines are to be implemented.
Aim: The aim was therefore to describe unit leaders’ experiences about what constitutes a meaningful daily life for older persons receiving municipal care and the opportunities and obstacles that may exist.
Method: Repeated interviews using reflective conversations with nine leaders were performed and analysed with qualitative content analysis.
Results: Unit leaders felt a shared vision regarding a meaningful life was needed. Daily routines and habits that promote independence, a feeling of community together with familiarity with the job, and that little extra from knowledgeable staff was important. The historical collective paradigm in elderly care needed to be abandoned in favour of one promoting more individualism. Fundamental was the courage to ask the older person what is important and dare to follow through “Give power to the older person to decide what care to be given”.
Conclusion: Organisational conditions affect unit leaders ability to succeed in the implementation of the work. Further studies are required regarding the nature of the support the unit leaders need to succeed in their work.