Hospital life experience of older patients hospitalized for a long time in long-term care hospitals without visitors: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore older patients’ experiences of hospital life in long-term care hospitals without visitors. Methods: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with eight older patients hospitalized in long-term care hospitals and were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Results: Four theme clusters extracted from older patients’ experiences were shabby oneself cut off from the outside world, a hospital that eventually became home, fear of death that will come one day, a self-reliant daily life with gathering body and mind. Conclusion: Through the results of this study, it was possible to deeply understand the experiences of older patients living in long-term care hospitals for a long time without visitors. Based on this, it is necessary to develop nursing interventions that can effectively support them, and active strategies are required to prevent their social disconnection and expand various social networks inside and outside the hospital.