Residents Perceptions of Friendship and Positive Social Networks Within a Nursing Home

Abstract

Though some residents had friendships, many reported that nursing home social opportunities did not align with their expectations of friendship. Relationships with coresidents were associated with perceptions of social support. SNA's relational perspective elucidated network size, tie direction, and density, advancing understanding of the structure of residents' networks and flow of subjective social support through that structure. Understanding resident expectations and perceptions of their social networks is important for care providers wishing to improve quality of life in nursing homes.

Self-reported needs and experiences of people with dementia living in nursing homes: a scoping review

“…In one study, a male participant highlighted how as a man it was harder to make friends, partly because there were a lot more women in the home (Moyle et al, 2011). Furthermore, in one dementia specific unit, no residents reported having a friendship within their unit, compared with non-dementia specific units (Casey, Low, Jeon, & Brodaty, 2016). Participants frequently described frustrations with fellow residents, disliking how they shout or hurt others (Bartlett, 2007;Murphy et al, 2005;Wiersma & Pedlar, 2008).…”

Nursing home resident relationship types: What supports close relationships with peers & staff?

“…Knowledge of the attributes of various relationships and the factors that support them is needed. Previous research is limited and has examined only some of the broad types of relationships residents develop including task‐focused and person‐focused relationships with staff (Bergland & Kirkevold, ; Brown‐Wilson & Davies, ; Cook & Brown‐Wilson, ), “friendships” with peers (Bitzan & Kruzich, ; Casey, Low, Jeon, & Brodaty, ; Retsinas & Garrity, ) and the general makeup of resident social networks (Powers, ). Few of these studies have taken a comprehensive view of relationships by concurrently studying both peer and staff relationships or describing both a) the different types of relationships and b) the factors that support or detract from them in a single study.…”

Besøk på sykehjem. En kvantitativ studie av sykehjemsbeboeres besøkshyppighet

“…Beboere på demens-og korttidsavdelinger får oftere besøk enn langtidsavdeling-beboerne. Dette samsvarer ikke med funn fra en studie hvor beboere boende på demensenheter opplevde mindre sosial støtte sammenliknet med beboere på andre avdelinger (Casey et al, 2016). Rognstad et al (2015) viser at pårørende til beboere med demenssykdom i liten grad inkluderes i beboernes liv etter innleggelse i institusjon.…”

“…Videre viser studien at beboere på demensenheter opplevde mindre sosial støtte sammenliknet med beboere på andre avdelinger (Casey, Low, Jeon, & Brodaty, 2016). Riktignok viser Bergland og Kirkevold (2008) i sin studie at sosial kontakt med andre beboere ikke er avgjørende for trivsel på sykehjemmet.…”