ADULT DAUGHTERS' PERSPECTIVES ON ADMISSION OF A PARENT TO A NURSING HOME: DIRECTIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE.
Contributors: University of Utah.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 197
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Most research concerning nursing homes has focused on the patient, including demographic characteristics, reasons for admission, morbidity and mortality, and methods of coping postadmission. Some research has included family and their continued contact with the relative or burden of care prior to admission. Studies of decision making for long-term care are rare.

The purpose of this study was to explore adult daughters' perceptions of the experiences involved with admitting parents to nursing homes, beginning with the decision. Three research questions were addressed: (a) What were the daughters' perceptions about the decision for nursing home placement? (b) How do daughters describe their experiences of placement? and (c) Do family type or demographics provide a basis for understanding the daughters' perceptions? Family systems theory and ethical dilemmas were suggested as a foundation for these experiences.

A multiple case study design with single unit of analysis was used. Three interviews were held over the initial 2-month postadmission period, for a total of 45 interviews. Demographic questions and the FACES III instrument were used during the first interview.

Sixteen daughters, whose names were obtained through nursing home administrators, participated. Three-fourths had admitted a mother.

Results derived for the first research question demonstrated that the decision for placement often was made by another person, but the daughter was responsible for the placement. Dilemmas focused on weighing responsibilities in the total family system and conflict between autonomy and safety for the parent. Some daughters continued to be undecided about the virtue of admission at the time of the third interview.

The second research question was characterized as relationships: dyad of daughter-parent and daughter-nursing home, and triad of daughter-parent-nursing home. Three concepts were identified to help explain the findings: attachment and loss, role change, and moral developments.

Demographic data did not aid understanding perceptions. FACES III scores may provide directions for intervention.

Implications for nursing center on responsibility for quality of care. Clarification of roles, support for family involvement, and recognition of potential conflict between family and nursing home systems could benefit that goal.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-05, Section: B, page: 1854.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, 1989.

School code: 0240.