The Care Relationship Required by Seniors in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Meta-study

Objective: The purpose of the study was to describe the type of care and human interaction required from nurses by elderly persons living in a nursing home, based on a synthesis and reanalysis of data from a number of primary studies on the experience of living in such a facility. Background: Qualitative studies on the experience of living in a nursing home have focused on aspects such as daily life, quality of life, experiences of suffering, the care received, proximity to death and personal relationships. Materials and methods: This is a qualitative meta-study based on meta-data-analysis. ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, EMBASE, LILACS and CUIDEN PLUS were the databases used. Twenty-nine (29) studies were selected. Results: The emerging central data categories were: the personal qualities required of the care-giving staff, the care and attention provided, the personal relationship with caregivers, and the influence the elderly person-caregiver relationship has on other aspects. Conclusion: In synthesizing evidence from by a number of primary studies, this research attempts to provide a higher level of knowledge about the care needs of residents in a nursing home, based invariably on the testimonies, episodes and life experiences of the protagonists.