Younger Residents in Nursing Homes

Abstract

Younger residents in nursing facilities represent a growing but little recognized population. This study examined a group of younger residents, describing issues identified by residents and facility staff and identifying strategies that might improve their quality of life. In this study, the majority of younger residents were men with significant physical and mental health deficits, who spent most of their time alone or watching television. Residents wanted a greater variety of relevant recreational activities and more meaningful relationships with family, staff, and other residents. Staff believed nursing facilities were not designed for younger residents, resulting in unmet psychosocial and recreational needs.

A scoping review to explore the experiences and outcomes of younger people with disabilities in residential aged care facilities

“…Experiences of young people living in aged care identified by the quantitative studies included in the review were: a lack of community participation and social interaction (7,35), a lack of choice regarding meal time and meal content (7,36), age inappropriate activities (7,35) and living in an age inappropriate physical environment (7,36). A summary of the quantitative results are presented in Table 4.…”

“…The reviewed literature also commonly described a number of basic human needs that residential aged care facilities failed to provide for young people with disability. Specifically, the unmet needs identified were: privacy (3,34), physical (3,32,34,37), sexual (34,35), social (3,7,(33)(34)(35)37), nutritional (34,36), psychological (3,35,37) and emotional support (1,3,33,35).…”

“…Quantitative results demonstrated a number of undesirable outcomes associated with being placed in aged care, including limited independence or self-determination (7,36), institutionalization (35) and the loss of valued life roles (7). Unsurprisingly, the majority of young people placed in aged care reported a preference for alternative support and housing options (7).…”

“…Unsurprisingly, the majority of young people placed in aged care reported a preference for alternative support and housing options (7). In one study, nurses reported that, after residing in residential aged care, young people had little potential for discharge from aged care facilities (35). However, more recent research suggests that young people are able to live more independently when provided the opportunity (36) (see Table 4 for a summary of quantitative results).…”

“Time's Up”: The Experience of Entering Residential Aged Care for Young People with Acquired Neurological Disorders and Their Families

“…The placement of young people in RAC is not a problem unique to Australia (Colantonio, Howse, & Patel, 2010; McMillan & Lawrie, 2004; Persson & Ostwald, 2009). Evidence from both North America and Europe demonstrates that the admission of young people with neurological disability to aged care environments occurs across a range of jurisdictions.…”