title: [Quality of life and health - individual perspectives of nursing home residents who were able to answer questions - a qualitative research].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A fundamental aim of social science and for practitioners is the improvement of the quality of life of inpatients residing in long term care homes. Health, as a vital part of quality of life, gains in subjective importance with rising age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to analyse the aspects of «Intact mental abilities» and "Mobility" thorough in terms of the subjective quality of life of nursing home residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  nine male and 33 female inpatients of eight independent nursing homes within Berlin and surrounding regions have been interviewed using narrative guidance questions. The interviewees were selected by the interviewer participating in their day to day life and through the means of direct conversations with the respective persons. The following analysis is based on Bohnsack's documentary method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings suggest that it is important for the interviewees to retain their mental abilities up until old age to be capable of acting autonomously and independently controlling their own life. The respondents not only perceive the loss of their own cognitive abilities as problematic, but also that of their cohabitants, as such impedes social contacts. Another key component of well-being deems to be the ability "to walk", in other words, mobility is basis for retaining self-determination and facilitates to participate in activities within the nursing homes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing home residents should receive tailored support in cognitive abilities. In addition, interested residents should receive enhanced information about the disease of dementia. The mobility should be largely preserved more close to everyday life movement offers available towards the residents.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behr
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biometrie und Klinische Epidemiologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holzhausen
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: Adelheid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhlmey
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: Liane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schenk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D005858:Germany; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009735:Nursing Homes; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Alter; Gesundheit; Pflegeheim; health; nursing homes; old age; qualitative Studie; qualitative research; quality of life; subjektive Lebensqualität