Attitudes of Egyptian nursing home residents towards staying in a nursing home: a qualitative study

Aim. The aim of this study was to identify the attitudes of Egyptian nursing home residents towards staying in a nursing home and to differentiate between various types of these attitudes. Background. The number of older persons in Egypt who require nursing care is increasing. In response, nursing homes in bigger cities like Cairo were founded, although family care seems to be the prevalent norm. Methods. Semi-structured guideline interviews were performed with 21 residents from four different nursing homes in Cairo. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings. One category of resident was those who were sent to the nursing home by persons closely related to them. Another category made their own decision to move to a nursing home. Relationships with social networks and self-help abilities are factors of importance in influencing decision-making. Conclusion. Nursing homes in Egypt fulfil different functions for different types of older persons. Charitable institutions are a last resort for those with no income and a disrupted social network. For better-off older persons, nursing homes may provide the benefits of socialising with peers and receiving medical treatment.