‘Finding home’: a grounded theory on how older people ‘find home’ in long‐term care settings

TLDR

The literature links residents’ sense of home in long‑term care to quality of life, yet few studies examine the factors that help older adults feel at home. The study aimed to understand older adults’ perceptions of being at home in long‑term care and the factors influencing these perceptions, guided by grounded theory. The authors conducted unstructured interviews with 61 residents in public or private facilities, identifying four critical categories—continuity, preserving personal identity, belonging, and being active and working—underlying the sense of home. The grounded‑theory analysis produced a core category of “Finding Home,” a theory outlining mediating, facilitating, and constraining factors, and practical strategies to foster a sense of home for older residents.

Abstract

A link between residents 'feeling at home' in long-term care facilities and 'quality of life' is emerging in the literature. Few studies, however, have focused on what helps residents to find a home in long-term care settings. This study aimed to fill this gap.This study aimed to understand older peoples' perceptions of 'being at home' in long-term care settings and the factors that influence these perceptions.Grounded theory guided the study design. Residents (n = 61) living in public or private long-term care settings were interviewed using unstructured interviews.Four categories were identified as critical to finding a home in long-term care settings: 'continuity', 'preserving personal identity', 'belonging' and 'being active and working'. 'Finding Home' was conceptualised as the core category. The potential to 'find home' was influenced by mediating and facilitating/constraining factors.The Theory of Finding Home was generated from the data. This theory describes the factors critical to 'finding home' in long-term care settings.The Theory of Finding Home gives insight into what matters to older people living in long-term care settings. Strategies to help generate a feeling of home in long-term care settings are shared.