Perspective: Nursing Home Care Paradox—Ensuring Quality of Life, Fostering Dignity in Death

Nursing Staffing and Quality of Life in Western New York Nursing Homes

“…Rapidly increasing numbers of elders in the long-term-care population are expected, and more emphasis is posed on the quality of life (QOL) beyond medical-oriented measurements of quality of care (QOC; Zimmerman, Sloane, & Fletcher, 2008). QOL is defined as the ability of an individual to participate in normal activities, enjoy life free from disease or pain, pursue well-being, and be capable of performing activities of daily living (Lechich, 2011). However, many factors determine an individual’s QOL: interactions between people, regulations, the community, facility staffing, and each resident’s characteristics (Zimmerman et al, 2008).…”