“<i>Home is Home:”</i> Exploring the Meaning of Home across Long-Term Care Settings

Abstract

To feel “at home” in long term care (LTC) is an important programmatic goal. Few large studies, however, have examined resident perspectives about feeling at home across different types of LTC settings. We asked 632 older adults living in nursing homes, assisted living, and adult foster homes in Oregon whether or not their setting felt “like home” and to describe their experiences with “at-homeness.” Our qualitative analysis revealed five distinct themes that encompassed social connection; autonomy, control, and choice; engagement with the physical environment; organizational environment; and perceptions and coping. Our findings demonstrate how organizational features, interacting with resident characteristics, can facilitate or constrain the experience of home in LTC settings.