Nurses' Recognition about Successful Aging of Hospitalized Elderly in long-Term care Hospital: A Focus Group Study

The purpose of this study was to understand and describe nurses' recognition regarding successful aging of hospitalized elderly in long-term care hospital s. Data were collected using focus group interviews in 2016. Three focus group interviews were held in three long-term care hospitals, and a total of 14 nurses participated. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A total of 25 concepts were identified, 15 subcategories, and five major categories emerged from the analysis. The five categories of the nurses' recognition about successful aging of hospitalized elderly in long-term care hospitals were "adjusting themselves to a lifestyle of long-term care hospital," "living positively in each situation," "communicating with each other and making a relationship," "obtaining interest and support of their families," and "maintaining economic independence". Therefore, further qualitative study will be performed and compared with this study results on successful aging of hospitalized elderly in long-term care hospitals. Moreover, based on these study results, it is necessary to develop and apply programs for successful aging of hospitalized elderly in long-term care hospitals.