[Quality of life and health - individual perspectives of nursing home residents who were able to answer questions - a qualitative research]. / Lebensqualität und Gesundheit - Subjektive Perspektiven von selbstauskunftsfähigen Pflegeheimbewohnern - eine qualitative Studie.

BACKGROUND: A fundamental aim of social science and for practitioners is the improvement of the quality of life of inpatients residing in long term care homes. Health, as a vital part of quality of life, gains in subjective importance with rising age. AIM: This paper aims to analyse the aspects of «Intact mental abilities¼ and "Mobility" thorough in terms of the subjective quality of life of nursing home residents. MATERIALS AND METHOD: nine male and 33 female inpatients of eight independent nursing homes within Berlin and surrounding regions have been interviewed using narrative guidance questions. The interviewees were selected by the interviewer participating in their day to day life and through the means of direct conversations with the respective persons. The following analysis is based on Bohnsack's documentary method. RESULTS: Findings suggest that it is important for the interviewees to retain their mental abilities up until old age to be capable of acting autonomously and independently controlling their own life. The respondents not only perceive the loss of their own cognitive abilities as problematic, but also that of their cohabitants, as such impedes social contacts. Another key component of well-being deems to be the ability "to walk", in other words, mobility is basis for retaining self-determination and facilitates to participate in activities within the nursing homes. CONCLUSION: Nursing home residents should receive tailored support in cognitive abilities. In addition, interested residents should receive enhanced information about the disease of dementia. The mobility should be largely preserved more close to everyday life movement offers available towards the residents.

Quality of life in nursing homes: results of a qualitative resident survey.

PURPOSE: The growing importance of residential nursing care has been accompanied by an increasing demand for instruments measuring quality of life in nursing homes. Quality of life is a complex construct with both subjective and objective aspects that does not lend itself to being determined by a single measure. The aim of this study was therefore to identify dimensions of life that nursing home residents perceive as having a particular impact on their overall quality of life. METHODS: Data were obtained from 9 men and 33 women from eight nursing homes by means of semi-structured narrative interviews. The interviews were analyzed using the documentary method. RESULTS: Ten central dimensions of subjective quality of life were derived from the interview data: social contacts, self-determination and autonomy, privacy, peace and quiet, variety of stimuli and activities, feeling at home, security, health, being kept informed, and meaningful/enjoyable activity. Some of these dimensions are multifaceted and have further subdimensions. CONCLUSION: The aspects emerging as relevant to residents' subjective quality of life extend far beyond care- and health-related aspects. Nevertheless, some of the quality of life dimensions reconstructed are within the direct influence of the home (e.g., variety of stimuli and activities or being kept informed) and can possibly be improved by attending to the residents' objective situation.