have gotten used to it; kind of like their second This concept of a it’s home.” “second also noted in work with Chinese elders living in nursing homes (Lee, Wu, & home”, Mackenzie, 2002) or thought of as a among nurses working in “home-away-from home” residential care settings (Tuckett et al., 2009), suggests a recognition of “homelike” features experienced amidst non-“home” environments and highlights that the division between and may be too simplistic to capture more nuanced “home” “non-home” experiences. Participants acknowledged that some residents may feel abandoned or a sense of loss when they first enter the LTC residence. As Jill suggested, because new residents are away from their family, community, and social engagements within community, they have a difficult time adjusting to the LTC setting. Similar reports are reflected in previous literature that has found nursing home residents to feel emotional and personal losses as well as a sense of abandonment (Brandburg, Symes, Mastel-Smith, Hersch, & Walsh, 2013; Fiveash, 1998; Nay, 1995). Participants reported, however, that in time residents do adjust to the LTC environment and to everyday routines, and begin to develop relationships within the care setting that promote a sense of familiarity and meaning. Joy stated, been here “They’ve for a long time so comfortable, used to it, their home. They think they’re they’re it’s it’s their Similarly, Anne reported: home.” first reaction, funny, when they first come here because of the [Residents’] it’s building and everything, not their home. The first thing is, don't like it here, it’s ‘I not But seen, once got adjusted, almost like it doesn't it’s home.’ I’ve they’ve it’s matter—for me too—the building matter anymore. the faces and the doesn’t It’s people around you that matter most.
have gotten used to it; it’s kind of like their second home.” This concept of a “second home”, also noted in work with Chinese elders living in nursing homes (Lee, Wu, & Mackenzie, 2002) or thought of as a “home-away-from home” among nurses working in residential care settings (Tuckett et al., 2009), suggests a recognition of “homelike” features experienced amidst non-“home” environments and highlights that the division between “home” and “non-home” may be too simplistic to capture more nuanced experiences. Participants acknowledged that some residents may feel abandoned or a sense of loss when they first enter the LTC residence. As Jill suggested, because new residents are away from their family, community, and social engagements within community, they have a difficult time adjusting to the LTC setting. Similar reports are reflected in previous literature that has found nursing home residents to feel emotional and personal losses as well as a sense of abandonment (Brandburg, Symes, Mastel-Smith, Hersch, & Walsh, 2013; Fiveash, 1998; Nay, 1995). Participants reported, however, that in time residents do adjust to the LTC environment and to everyday routines, and begin to develop relationships within the care setting that promote a sense of familiarity and meaning. Joy stated, “They’ve been here for a long time so they’re comfortable, they’re used to it, it’s their home. They think it’s their home.” Similarly, Anne reported: [Residents’] first reaction, it’s funny, when they first come here because of the building and everything, it’s not their home. The first thing is, ‘I don't like it here, it’s not home.’ But I’ve seen, once they’ve got adjusted, it’s almost like it doesn't matter—for me too—the building doesn’t matter anymore. It’s the faces and the people around you that matter most.
From_familiar_faces_to_family_Staff_and_resident_relationships_in_long_term_care_FINAAAM_L.docx