The decision to place an elderly family member in a nursing home is never an easy one, and a study by Bell (1996) looked at the issues involved for rural families, who often have less choices available to them as to where they can place their family member, and also less available local support if they decide to keep them at home. The study was conducted by interviews with the elderly person admitted to a nursing home, either temporarily or permanently, and with relatives who made the decision for them, during the last 60 days. The subjects in the study were all rural, living in small towns with populations less than 4,000.
Sixteen interviews were conducted with family members described as being the decision maker. Many of those interviewed said the decision to put an elderly family member in a nursing home was the most difficult decision they had ever had to make. Most of the primary caregivers interviewed were women, but they reported that they had the support of the family and their agreement on the decision they made. They made the decision only after the stress of caregiving had reached a point where it could no longer be continued. Two elderly women were childless, and made the decision themselves. Neither of these women had any problems adjusting to the nursing home environment.
The major considerations in choosing a home for the elderly were the care they would receive, the cleanliness of the home, and the location. Little concern was reported over the cost and the reimbursement they would receive. Families expected the nursing home staff to treat their family member with individual attention, knowing their likes and dislikes, clothing preferences, hair styles, etc. This was not often the case, and the families voiced many concerns over this. However, they did not seem concerned about the licensing status of the home, staff qualifications, state inspection findings, number of staff per patient, food, or a...