KATIE

ERIKSSON
“Caritative caring means that we take
“caritas” into use when caring for the
human being in health and suffering…
Caritative caring is a manifestation of the
love that “just exist”… Caring
communion, true caring, occurs when the
one caring in a spirit of caritas alleviates
the suffering of the patient.”

- Born in Nov. 18, 1943 in Jakobstad, Finland

- A graduate in Helsinki Swedish School of Nursing in 1965

- Established Department of Caring Science Abo Akademi

University in 1987which developed the MA in health and the
caring science didactic education program.
- In 1987, eriksson with hers staff and researchers, has
further developed the Caritative Theory of Caring and
Caring Science as an academic didcipline.

- Presented her theory at the 14th IAHC conference in

Melbourne, Australia in 1992. and became clearer in
1997.

- In 2003, she was honored nationally as a Knight, First

Class, of the White Rose in Finland.
 MAJOR CONCEPTS AND DEFINITION

• CARITAS – means love and charity.

- by nature is unconditional love.
- fundamental motive of Caring Science.
- from the ideas of caritas, Eriksson derived her whole
caritative caring theory.

• CARING COMMUNION – constitutes the meaning of

caring and the structure that determines reality.
- characterized by intensity and vitality and by warmth,
closeness, rest, respect, honesty and tolerance.
- requires meeting in time and space, an absolute lasting
presence.
- joining in communion means creating possibilities for the
other.
• THE ACT OF CARING – is the art of making
something very special out of something less
special.

• CARITATIVE CARING ETHICS

– comprises the ethics of caring, the core of
which is determined by the caritas motive.
- Ethical Caring is what we actually make
explicit through our approach and the things
we do for the patient in practice.
• DIGNITY
– A human being’s absolute dignity involves the
right to be confirmed as a unique human being.

• INVITATION
– refers to the act that occurs when the carer
welcomes the patient to the caring communion.
• SUFFERING – is an ontological concept described as a
human being’s struggle between good and evil in the state of
becoming.
- Suffering related to illness is experienced in
connection with illness and treatment.
- Suffering related to care is when the patient is
exposed to suffering caused by care or absence of
caring.
- Suffering related to life is when you are being in a
situation of being a patient the entire life of a
human being may be experienced as suffering
related to life.

• THE SUFFERING HUMAN BEING – is the concept

that Eriksson uses to describe a patient.
• RECONCILIATION – refers to the drama of
suffering.
- having achieved reconciliation implies living
with imperfection with regard to oneself and
others but seeing a way forward and a meaning
in one’s suffering.

• CARING CULTURE – is the concept that

Eriksson uses instead of environment.
- It characterizes the total caring reality and is
based on cultural elements such as traditions ,
rituals, and basic values.
 MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS

• Axioms - fundamental truths in relation to

the conception of the world.

• Theses - are fundamental statements

concerning the general nature of
caring science and their validity is
tested through basic research.
Axioms

The human being is fundamentally an entity of the

body, soul and spirit.

The human being is fundamentally a religious being.

The human being is fundamentally holy. Human dignity

means accepting the human obligation of serving with
love, of existing for the sake of others.

Communion is the basis for all humanity. Human beings

are fundamentally interrelated to an abstract and/or
concrete other in a communion.
Caring is something human by nature, a call to
serve in love.

Suffering is an inseparable part of life, suffering

and health are each others prerequisite.

Health is more than the absence of illness. Health

implies wholeness and holiness.

The human being lives in a reality that is

characterize by mystery, infinity and eternity.
Theses

Ethos confers ultimate meaning on the caring

context.

The basic motive of caring is the caritas motive.

The basic category of caring is suffering.

Caring communion forms the context of meaning

of caring and derives its origin from the ethos of
love, responsibility, and sacrifice namely caritative
ethics.
Health means a movement in becoming, being,
and doing while striving for wholeness and
holiness which is compatible with endurable
suffering.

Caring implies alleviation of suffering in charity,

love, faith, and hope. Natural basic caring is
expressed through tending, playing, and learning
in a sustained caring relationship, which is
asymmetrical in nature.