Living well in care homes: a systematic review of qualitative studies

research in care home settings is often negatively focused, portraying life as sterile and devoid of meaningful experiences. Care homes have the potential to influence people's lives socially, physically and psychologically. It is important to understand what factors contribute to this. to cond...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Age and ageing 2012-07, Vol.41 (4), p.429-440
Main Authors: Bradshaw, Siobhan Aine, Playford, E Diane, Riazi, Afsane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Age Factors
Aged
Aged patients
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - ethnology
Aging - psychology
Alternative medicine
Anthropology, Cultural
Attitude
Care and treatment
Caring
Company business management
Delivery of Health Care
Elderly patients
Empathy
Environment
Female
Health aspects
Health Services Research
Homes for the Aged - standards
Humans
In care
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Management
Nursing home care
Nursing homes
Nursing Homes - standards
Older people
Personal Autonomy
Practice
Qualitative Research
Quality of care
Quality of Health Care
Quality of Life
Residential care
Residents (Medicine)
Social Distance
Systematic review
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Summary:research in care home settings is often negatively focused, portraying life as sterile and devoid of meaningful experiences. Care homes have the potential to influence people's lives socially, physically and psychologically. It is important to understand what factors contribute to this. to conduct a systematic qualitative review of care home life and provide practical recommendations to enhance residents' quality of life. the following databases were searched: PsycINFO, Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. References from appropriate journals and individual articles were checked. Papers that fitted our selection criteria were selected. Two independent reviewers assessed methodological study quality. Thematic analysis and meta-ethnographic methods were adapted to synthesise findings. thirty-one studies were identified. People in care homes voiced concerns about lack of autonomy and difficulty in forming appropriate relationships with others. Four key themes were identified: (i) acceptance and adaptation, (ii) connectedness with others, (iii) a homelike environment, (iv) caring practices. positive experiences in care homes can occur and are important for residents' quality of life. The review supports literature highlighting the need for relationship-centred approaches to care and emphasises the importance of understanding the resident's attitude towards living in care homes.
ISSN:0002-0729
1468-2834
DOI:10.1093/ageing/afs069