Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Social Work Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba;i University, Tehran, Iran
2
Social Work Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
10.22126/jap.2025.11805.1839
Abstract
Older adults experience many changes in their lives. One of the most influential of them is moving from their previous place of residence. This study focused on a specific type of relocation, which is moving from home to a nursing home. The aim of the study was to understand the relocation to a nursing home as a phenomenon. For this purpose, a phenomenological method and semi-structured interviews were used. Data were saturated by interviewing 13 people over 60 years of age with cognitive ability to respond who lived in a nursing home less than 2 years. The data were analyzed using the Colaizzi’s 7-step method which led in to extraction of 5 themes and 14 concepts. The themes were: reduction of social networks, social exclusion, involvement with depressive symptoms, reduction of life mastery, and poor physiological conditions. The findings indicated that the older adults experience relocation to a nursing home with a series of negative changes in their physical, mental, and social status. In other words, they are psychologically involved in depression, sadness, and a sense of loss of mastery. In the physical domain, their sleep status and physical ability decrease, and ultimately their relationships with their previous social network are minimized, and they lose their meaningful roles in the family and society. It seems that by moving to a nursing home, the older adults lose their previous lifestyle and change from a multidimensional and social person into a sick person in need of care.
Main Subjects
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