Open AccessSocial Support in Elderly Nursing Home Populations: Manifestations and Influences
Author(s) -
Elizabeth M. Rash
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2007.1623
Subject(s) - pride , social support , reciprocal , grounded theory , psychology , nursing , nursing homes , social psychology , social relation , gerontology , developmental psychology , sociology , qualitative research , medicine , social science , political science , law , linguistics , philosophy
The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of social support and the influencing factors on social support in nursing home environments. Observations and staff questionnaires from two central Florida nursing homes were used in this grounded theory study to answer the following questions: (1) How is social support manifested? and (2) What are influences on social support? Social support manifestations seemed predominantly superficial and did not appear to involve complex reciprocal relationships, however, when reciprocal resident tasks were observed, they appeared to have significant value and were sources of pride for the residents. Facility behaviors and policies required by governmental mandates appeared to result in significant resident dependency, a situation that mitigates against significant social support.