The experience of living in a long-term care facility : a phenomenological exploration

Abstract

Quality of life has been a topic of great concern and this issue is of particular importance for older people, who face more acute and chronic illnesses when compared to the rest of the population. Relocation to a long-term care (LTC) affects the lives of older people (Aminzadeh et al., 2009; Ewen & Chahal, 2013) and is often preceded by declining health, financial problems and/or death of a spouse (Seifert & Schelling, 2018). In her classical study, Carole Chenitz (1983) concluded that in general older people accepted the placement in so far as it was viewed as legitimate or voluntary, desirable or important, and reversible. When these conditions were present they usually accepted living in LTC by a process of either strategic submission, or submission by default. [Excerpt]