Living in Care: Older Persons Experiences of Nursing Homes

A sample of 40 older persons, (30 female; 10 male) half of whom resided in public and half of whom resided in private nursing homes across Cork city and county participated in the study. Participants were interviewed about their experience of entering and living in nursing home care. The qualitative data yielded from the interviews identified that the majority of the sample entered into care due to poor physical or mental health. The features of residential care reported that were liked were an enhanced sense of security, the company of others and being looked after. The features of residential care reported that were disliked were the lack of control over ones daily life and residential care being a very 'public experience' characterised by a lack of privacy