Elders' Decision Making Regarding the Use of Long-Term Care Services

A Precarious Balance

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4633629
AutoresSarah Forbe (0000-0002-8361-6390, University of Kansas), Sarah Forbes (University of Kansas School of Nursing), Nancy Hoffart (0000-0002-1636-4357, University of Kansas School of Nursing)
Año1998
Volumen8
Número6
Páginas736-750
Fecha de publicación1998-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/104973239800800602
PMID10558344
OpenAlexW2167697618
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas19

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors that influenced decision making regarding the use and nonuse of long-term care services, with a particular focus on elders' attitudes, values, and beliefs. The sample (N = 27) consisted of high-functional elders recently admitted to nursing homes and community-dwelling, high-risk elders recently diverted from nursing homes following a prescreening program. Data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face, semistructured interviews and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Independence and sense of self were the strongest values to emerge. The attitude of acceptance, both passive and active, helped elders cope with increasing levels of dependency and lifestyle changes. The desire to be part of decisions, both major life planning and day-to-day choices such as meal planning, was pervasive. Decision making was individualistic and complex. Loss of control was threatening to the sense of self, leaving some elders feeling shortchanged

Aging in place · Feeling · Focus group · Individualism · Long-term care · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Sense of control · Sociology · Aging and Gerontology Research · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology