Perspectives on residential involvement and engagement in everyday life-a qualitative study

Scand J Occup Ther. 2023 Oct;30(7):1143-1152. doi: 10.1080/11038128.2023.2218570. Epub 2023 Jun 4.

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, the population is ageing, and the need for nursing homes is increasing. institutionalization and a culture change from task-orientated care delivery towards increased involvement and engagement in a meaningful everyday life are evolving and, thus, contributing to nursing home residents' quality of life and well-being.Aims/Objectives: To explore nursing home staff's and local managers' perspectives on everyday life with a specific focus on involvement and engagement.Material and Methods: Positioned within interpretivism and hermeneutics, a qualitative exploratory design was applied using individual and group interviews for data generation and abductive thematic analysis as the analytical method.Results: Through the analyses, three main themes appeared-A good day-Everyday life in a nursing home, Doing together-involvement in Everyday life and Involvement in Everyday life-difficult to practice-together with four subthemes-Home and people within, Knowing and relating to the person, If they can - they must and Service and Habits.Conclusions: Fulfilling the needs of both residents and the institution was found to be challenging by nursing home staff and local managers.Significance: A different approach to care, facilitated by, for example, occupational therapists, might be required to enable increased involvement and engagement in everyday life.

Keywords: Engagement; everyday life; involvement; nursing home; nursing home staff; occupation; qualitative.

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Humans
  • Nursing Homes*
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Qualitative Research
  • Quality of Life*