title: Psychological responses to relocation to a nursing home.
abstract: A new environment is particularly stressful for the elderly, and it often aggravates existing health and emotional problems. The elder, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, feels a sense of isolation. Four phases of adaptation to life in a long-term care facility have been identified: disorganization, reorganization, relationship building, and stabilization. A central factor in the psychological response of elders to entering a nursing home is their perception of how much control over their life will be lost. Nurses must advocate for as much resident control as is realistic; they must mediate between resident and environment, and sometimes between resident and family.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mikhail
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005190:Family; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control