Explanation Caring Works in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Study

Objectives The use of long term care services has risen and this trend is expected to continue as the population reaches to old age. Since older people who live in nursing homes need holistic care, the purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of caring delivery in nursing homes. Methods & Materials This study was conducted with a qualitative approach using conventional qualitative content analysis. The study included 23 Iranian participants including 14 elderly people, 7 caregivers and 2 managers. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews and continued to the point of data saturation. Analysis of the data was performed continually and concurrently with the data collection using a comparative method. Results 2 themes emerged from 595 open codes, including: available care and care as an unpleasant task. Nine subthemes indicated participants' experiences and understandings of the caring delivered in nursing home. Conclusions Current delivered care is of the routine kind, which focuses on physical aspects, although there is some psychological care, too. The findings of this research can be used as a guideline for managers and care planners in nursing homes to pay more attention to physical and psychological care needs of elders. Also, clinical training for care givers and provision programs for treatment and supervision are recommended.