Decision-making in experiences and patterns in residential care homes for older residents, family members and care providers

Abstract

Aim: To explore the decision-making experiences and processes taking place in residential care homes from older residents, their families and staff members, particularly how residents’ needs were met and their degree of involvement in making decisions.

Methods: A constructivist grounded theory study was used to interview 28 residents, 22 family members and 31 staff. Results: Three processes illuminated the residents’ approaches to decision-making over time. These processes demonstrated how residents settled into the homes and began to develop their decision-making approaches in conjunction with their family and staff members. The degree of negotiation and compromises in decision-making that was possible for older people could be captured in the data.

Conclusions: The influence of family members and staff in supporting or hindering residents from decision-making highlighted the subtle discussions, delicate negotiations and compromises that occurred. Findings presented will be discussed with the wider literature on caring for older people in these homes.