Older residents' perceptions of loneliness in long‐term care facilities: A qualitative study

Loneliness is a negative emotional feeling often experienced by older residents in long‐term care facilities (LTCFs). Previous studies have shown that loneliness is related to depression, inferior quality of life, cardiovascular disease, and suicidal thoughts. Thus, it is important to understand old...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of mental health nursing 2022-06, Vol.31 (3), p.601-610
Main Authors: Huang, Pi‐Hua, Wang, Shou‐Yu, Hu, Sophia H., Chuang, Yeu‐Hui
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Belonging
Cardiovascular diseases
Content analysis
Health care
Humans
Interviews
Loneliness
Loneliness - psychology
Long-Term Care
long‐term care facility
Medical personnel
Mental health
Nursing Homes
older adult
Older people
Pain
Patient satisfaction
Perceptions
perspective
Psychological well being
Qualitative Research
Quality of life
Quality of Life - psychology
Suicidal behavior
Suicidal ideation
Suicide
Taiwan
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Summary:Loneliness is a negative emotional feeling often experienced by older residents in long‐term care facilities (LTCFs). Previous studies have shown that loneliness is related to depression, inferior quality of life, cardiovascular disease, and suicidal thoughts. Thus, it is important to understand older residents’ viewpoints about loneliness to provide better care in the long‐term care context. This study aimed to explore residents’ perceptions of loneliness in LTCFs. For this qualitative research, data were collected from two LTCFs in northern Taiwan, and purposive sampling was used. In‐depth interviews with 16 older residents were conducted using a semi‐structured interview guide. Content analysis was performed to analyse the data. Four themes with nine subthemes were generated. The themes were: being cut off from continually meaningful relationships, experiencing tears of pain, feeling alone, and lacking a sense of belonging. The findings of this study can provide information for health care professionals to better understand older residents’ views on loneliness and remind them to re‐examine care protocols for psychological health care. Thus, this study found that in order to prevent or alleviate older residents’ feelings of loneliness, the LTCFs should maintain continually meaningful relationships, accompany them, and give them a sense of belonging. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines were used to report this study.
ISSN:1445-8330
1447-0349
DOI:10.1111/inm.12979