2022 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 19-28
The purpose of this study is to describe narratives of elderly residents with mental illness living in nursing homes and who receive care from “helping professionals.” It also examines issues that arise in the care provided. Qualitative research was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Participants were elderly residents aged 65 and over, diagnosed with mental illnesses other than dementia who responded freely to interview questions on the following three topics: the residents’ (1) background prior to entering the nursing home; (2) impressive care experiences; and (3) feelings and thoughts about receiving care. We performed thematic analysis on the data, which were recorded using an IC recorder.
Ten residents with mental illness from four nursing homes participated in the survey, and the history of their care was drawn from their stories. For participants whose self-esteem was hurt by having a mental illness, the process of building relationships with helping professionals who provided good care—even if they got hurt by their relationship with the helping professionals—improved their the way of thinking about illness, and their life became more positive. They felt recognized as “individuals.” For such elderly residents with mental illness, interpersonal relationships that promote the recovery of self-esteem are an important aspect of nursing home care.
