Physical impairment and dependency on others may be a threat to dignity.

The purpose of this study was to explore dignity as a core concept in caring, and how healthcare personnel focus on and foster dignity in nursing home residents.

This study has a hermeneutic design.

In all, 40 healthcare personnel from six nursing homes in Scandinavia participated in focus group interviews in this study.

This study has been evaluated and approved by the Regional Ethical Committees and the Social Science Data Services in the respective Scandinavian countries.

Two main themes emerged: dignity as distinction (I), and dignity as influence and participation (II).

A common understanding was that stress and business was a daily challenge.

Therefore, and according to the health personnel, maintaining human dignity requires slow caring in nursing homes, as an essential approach.