How caregivers can affect quality of life in the nursing home

Life in the nursing home is more than a series of functions-bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and sleeping. The efforts of rehabilitation professionals are directed to quality of life as the ultimate goal of functional intervention. The traditional medical approach to assessing quality of life, rooted in the physical, mechanical functions of the body, is inadequate, particularly for long-term care residents. This article explores ways in which the rewarding and disturbing aspects of the nursing home environment influence intervention, suggests ways to increase quality of life, and addresses the issue of accountability.