title: Perceived factors which shape decision-making around the time of residential care admission in older adults: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the perceived factors that shape decision-making around the time of residential care admission in older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two qualitative methods (telephone interviews at intervals post discharge from geriatric inpatient care and face-to-face interviews with older people and their family carers) were used as part of a multiphase mixed methods study of a cohort of 144 older people discharged from medical wards in a subacute assessment, treatment and rehabilitation facility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key topics and themes were derived from interviews: the role of the informal carer and other community supports, attitudes to decision-making and loneliness were key aspects of social context. Physical health, the experience of repeated hospital admissions and health professionals' attitudes to repeated admissions were also seen as important.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social context as an essential component of older people's decisions to enter aged residential care is highlighted in this qualitative study.
authors: University of Otago - Christchurch, Department of Medicine, The Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors: Claire P
authors: CP
authors: Heppenstall
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Keeling
authors: H Carl
authors: HC
authors: Hanger
authors: Tim J
authors: TJ
authors: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: frailty; residential care admission; social context