A review of older people's experiences with residential care placement.
BACKGROUND
Transition to the care and environment of a residential home has been identified in the literature as the most significant relocation affecting older people. However, little effort has been made systematically to review and synthesize the body of knowledge relating to older people's experiences with such placement. This has led to lack of concerted effort in the development of strategies to help elders adjust to such placement with dignity and success.


OBJECTIVE
This paper presents a critical review of the literature related to older people's experiences with residential care placement, with an attempt to identify how knowledge in this area could be moved forward.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that, while understanding of older people's pre and postplacement experiences was abundant, there was a dearth of literature on the actual experiences involved as older people made their day to day adjustment after placement. There is a need for future research to identify the dynamic processes of how older people come to terms with residential living. Future research should also focus on developing an accurate understanding of the adjustment experiences of elders with different ethnic background.
Lee
Diana T F
DT
Department of Nursing, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. tzefanlee@cuhk.edu.hk
Woo
Jean
J
Mackenzie
Ann E
AE
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D009735:Nursing Homes