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Relatives’ experience of nursing home admissions: preliminary study
Author(s) -
Pearson Alan,
Nay Rhonda,
Taylor Bev
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.0141-6790.2004.02701007_1.x
Subject(s) - family member , nursing , nursing homes , distress , medicine , emotional distress , aged care , emotional support , diversity (politics) , family medicine , psychology , psychiatry , social support , clinical psychology , anxiety , social psychology , sociology , anthropology
Objective:As the first of a three‐phase study examining nursing home admissions, the current paper reports on relatives’ subjective experience of admitting an older family member to a nursing home.Methods:Fifty‐eight relatives from northern New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia who had admitted a family member into an aged care home were interviewed.Results:A broad range of positive and negative experiences were recounted by relatives who had been involved in a nursing home admission of a family member. Although there was a diversity of responses, a number of common themes were identified in the interviews. These included the inability to cope with supporting an older person, difficulties in finding a nursing home, disheartening admission processes, and a broad range of emotional responses including guilt, distress and relief.Conclusions:Admission of a family member to a nursing home can be a difficult and emotional time for relatives. The complex and sensitive nature of this process highlights the importance of recognition and support for relatives from health care professionals in aged care.