What matters to you when the nursing home is your home: a qualitative study on the views of residents with dementia living in nursing homes

Abstract

Background: Dementia is recognised as one of the greatest global public health challenges. A central tenet of national health and social care policy is to ensure that services support people in achieving their personal wellbeing and outcomes, defined as the things important to people in their lives, also people with dementia. The aim of this study is to explore what matters to nursing home residents with dementia based on their perceptions of nursing homes as home. Methods: There were conducted 35 interviews with people with dementia in nursing homes. We conducted the in-depth unstructured qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data. Results: The analysis resulted in one over-arching theme "tension between the experiences of a nursing home being a home and an institution" and five themes; "myself and my relationships with fellow residents", "creation of individualised living spaces", "single rooms with personal decor that enhances a sense of connectedness", "transition between the old home and the new home" and "significant activities providing meaning". The participants stated that the transition to the supported, structured living environment in nursing homes to be a clear need based on immediate, serious safety concerns. They went from being masters of their own lives to adhering to nursing home routines. Fellow residents could be both resources and burdens, creating feelings of security and insecurity. A home-like environment was created by allowing the participants to bring their important personal belongings into private spaces. The participants said they needed to be able to decorate their rooms to their own specifications. They wanted involvement in meaningful activities.

Towards personalized dementia care through meaningful activities supported by technology: A multisite qualitative study with care professionals

“…Despite these calls to action, a recent scoping review of the needs and experiences of people living with dementia in nursing homes found that one of the most commonly occurring experiences of residents was boredom [ 13 ]. Furthermore, a recent study of people living with dementia in Norwegian care homes found that residents desired more opportunities for meaningful relations and activities [ 14 ]. Both in Norway and internationally, the delivery of dementia care still tends to be based on a medical model of care which is oriented towards physical needs rather than psychosocial needs [ 15 – 17 ].…”

“…Despite these calls to action, a recent scoping review of the needs and experiences of people living with dementia in nursing homes found that one of the most commonly occurring experiences of residents was boredom [13]. Furthermore, a recent study of people living with dementia in Norwegian care homes found that residents desired more opportunities for meaningful relations and activities [14].…”

Measuring safety in older adult care homes: a scoping review of the international literature

“…The qualities of ‘homeliness’, with access to individualised space and personalised décor, and also relationships with other residents contribute to a sense of (in)security and (not) feeling safe. 10 …”

<p>Quality of Care in a Nursing Home as Experienced by Patients with Dementia</p>

“…43 The same barriers might possibly be an explanation for why>40% of respondents said that they could not decide what to do during the day. The importance of feeling autonomous and the possibility of them deciding for themselves what to do and how to spend their days, 47 as well as the desire to continue with some of the activities they did in their former home, 48 have already been stated. 42 Nearly 60% of respondents reported that they received good help to wash/take a shower and that this was important for them.…”