essay about nursing home

97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best nursing home topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy nursing home essay titles, 🔎 most interesting nursing home topics to write about, ❓ nursing home research questions.

• Issue of Falls at a Nursing Home: Professional Reflection The problem of patients’ falls in nursing homes is an urgent nursing issue, and my experience in one of these institutions in New Zealand is the object of evaluation.
• Older Patients’ Transition From a Hospital to a Nursing Home The example of transition of care chosen for further exploration is concerned with the transition of care from the hospital to the nursing home setting for patients that came to receive healthcare for various conditions.
• The Rehabilitation Center and Nursing Home During the evaluation process, the nurse leader identifies the problems in the organization and determines the strong and weak points, resources, gaps, and other factors that determine how the project will develop.
• A Nitrogen Gas Accident at a Nursing Home The nursing home workers failed to recognize this error and did not check the gas before hooking the tanks to the system.
• Approach to Learning at Cloudview Nursing Home Since the approach adopted to learning determines an organization’s performance, it is essential to understand the motivations for learning and their influence on workplace education.
• Regulation of a Large For-Profit Nursing Home Chain To solve the problem of unlawful actions of the stakeholders in nursing homes, there is a need for the implementation of the practical management theory.
• “Implementation and Effects of MRC in a Nursing Home” by Henskens The research’s dependent variable is the outcome to be measured the treatment’s impact on the aforementioned patients’ ADL and QoL. However, the researchers did not provide a clear delineation of the above-mentioned variables in the […]
• Nursing Home Beds: Fundamental Uncertainty and Values If it is assumed that the admission will stay the same, the decision to dismiss a certain amount of employees will reduce fixed costs in both facilities.
• A Nursing Home Working Scenario Working in nursing homes has its opportunities and challenges; therefore, the paper will cover the multidisciplinary teams’ working scenario, their interaction and diversity, communication in client care, and support accorded to clients considering their family, […]
• Nursing Home Blueprint and Requirements The aim of the facility should be geared towards the promotion of the health of the old patients through the prevention and treatment of diseases and disabilities.
• Departmental Budget Preparation for Nursing Home However, while the total population in our area of operation is expected to decrease, the population of people who are above 65 years in the US is projected to rise.
• Northern Cochise Nursing Home: Federal and State Surveys Following the findings of the health inspection carried out by Arizona Department of Health Services, the management of the Northern Cochise Nursing home took immediate steps to correct the deficiencies.
• Redondo Nursing Home: Providing Above Average Care While the potential resident and family members are expected to disclose all information pertaining to medical conditions, the planner is required to provide a complete description of the home.
• Organization Strategic Plan for a 40 Bed Nursing Home Unit The core values are to ensure that a team of the highest quality and honesty in delivering services attends to all.
• Activities Coordinator and a Conflict of Interest Situation at Cooinda Nursing Home It is thereby imperative that the practitioner adhere to the guidelines set by the home in such regards because he needs to check how his values and emotions are at par with the organizations, and […]
• Satisfaction With a Transitional Nursing Home Project The abstract does mention the dependant variable of the study viz.satisfaction with the transitional program; it does not, however, mention and discusses the various dimensions of the dependant variable that were measured in order to […]
• Nursing Home Designs: Health and Wellness of Aging The Eden Alternative is a nursing home model of care that places decision-making power into the hands of its clients and their families.
• Future Care Nursing Home in Baltimore City In the United States, up to one-half of the citizens will spend at least a few years of their lives in a nursing home.
• Healthcare Research at Pearl City Nursing Home I can conclude that the methods used in our work are effective and improve the quality of patient care in the Pearl City Nursing Home.
• Nursing Home and Its Impact on Lifespan A nursing home is a special nursing facility where the old, the mentally, and the physically challenged or handicapped people in society are taken care of.
• Choosing an Adult Foster Home or a Nursing Home A nursing home is well known to health and social services professionals as the long-term care service for older adults that accounts for that vast majority of public funding.
• Blumberg’s Nursing Home’s Staffing Crisis The present paper will seek to assess the current needs of the facility and develop a useful HR policy for inappropriate conduct.
• Blumberg’s Nursing Home: Staffing Crisis The situation under analysis is complicated due to the level of awareness and the necessity to take immediate steps and fill the unstaffed positions.
• Employee Compensation and Benefits. Senior Secretary at Capital Nursing Home Limited The proposal demonstrates that the value of the employee’s benefits augmented with the annual salary and provides the total compensation. The total compensation package for the position of Senior Secretary includes the base pay and […]
• Fernhill Nursing Home Run by Colten Care Limited Staff management for my team is my responsibility; and of course I am a nurse so my basic role is providing general nursing care to the residents and any other role that might be allocated […]
• Reduce Hospitalization of Nursing Home Residents Publicity of INTERACT as a program having the necessary infrastructure and leadership commitment in health care matters for the elderly is one promising way that can be used to overcome these issues.
• The Effects of Group Music Making on the Wellbeing of Nursing Home Residents
• Assessing French Nursing Home Efficiency
• Assessing Nursing Home Care Quality Through Bayesian Networks
• Can Family Caregiving Substitute for Nursing Home Care
• Cost (In)Efficiency and Institutional Pressures in Nursing Home Chains
• The Difference Between Nursing Homes and Retirement Homes
• Direct Care Workers’ Response to Dying and Death in the Nursing Home
• Does Paid Family Leave Reduce Nursing Home Use
• Economic Disability and Health Determinants of the Hazard of Nursing Home Entry
• Effective Human Resources Leadership for Nursing Home
• Elder Abuse Within Nursing Home Setting
• Elderly Falls Within the Nursing Home
• End-Of-Life Decision Making for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia
• Impact of Family Structure on the Risk of Nursing Home Admission
• Nursing Home Facility Versus a General Acute Care Hospital
• Improving Wound and Pressure Area Care in a Nursing Home
• Nursing Home Environment and Pet Therapy Programs
• The Effects of 1935’s Social Security Act on the Nursing Home Industry
• Nursing Home Care Versus Assisted Living Care
• Health Care Utilization Nursing Home Administration
• Nursing Home Staff Turnover and Better Practices
• Mental Disorders Among Non-Elderly Nursing Home Residents
• Forecasting Nursing Home Utilization of Elderly Americans
• Incorporating Quality Into Data Envelopment Analysis of Nursing Home Performance
• Interventions That Encourage High-Value Nursing Home Care
• Lateral Violence and Uncivil Behavior in a Nursing Home
• Medicaid and the Cost of Improving Access to Nursing Home Care
• Medicaid Reimbursement and the Quality of Nursing Home Care
• Who Makes the Decision to Go to a Nursing Home
• Understanding the Medical Aspect of a Nursing Home
• The Fate and Welfare of Nursing Home Residents
• The Social Security Act of Nursing Home Facilities
• Physical Restraint in Nursing Home Facilities
• Predicting Nursing Home Utilization Among the High-Risk Elderly
• How Many Nursing Home Residents Live With a Mental Illness
• Improving the Nursing Home: A Framework for Professional Nursing Practice
• Incapacitated vs. Incompetence: Employees in the Nursing Home Industry
• An Argument in Enhancing the Care Quality in a Nursing Home
• How to Prevent Accidents in Nursing Homes
• Positive and Negative Views of Nursing Homes
• What Are the Benefits of Living in a Nursing Home?
• Do People Live Longer at Home or in a Nursing Home?
• What Is the Main Purpose of a Nursing Home?
• Why Is Assisted Living Better Than a Nursing Home?
• Which Are the Most Important Problems of Nursing Home Residents?
• How Do You Know When Someone Is Ready for a Nursing Home?
• What Participation and Knowledge Are Associated with Nursing Home Admission Decisions Among the Working-Age Population?
• Is It Bad to Put Your Parents in a Nursing Home?
• What Is the Most Common Diagnosis in Nursing Homes?
• How Did the Social Security Act of 1935 Affect the Nursing Home Industry?
• Can a Doctor Put Someone in a Nursing Home?
• How Can You Improve the Quality of Life in a Nursing Home?
• What Are the Most Common Reasons Seniors Are Placed in a Nursing Home?
• Are Nursing Homes Better Than Care Homes?
• What Is the Difference Between a Nursing Home and a Senior Home?
• How Can the Risk of Violence in Nursing Homes Be Reduced?
• What Are the Perspectives and Expectations of Telemedicine Opportunities from Families of Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Home Caregivers?
• How Do You Deal with the Guilt of Putting Your Parents in a Nursing Home?
• What Percentage of Nursing Home Residents Are Depressed?
• Is a Nursing Home the Best Choice for the Elderly?
• What Are the Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social Benefits of Various Stimulating Activities for Nursing Home Residents?
• How to Deal With Collateral Violence and Indecent Behavior in a Nursing Home?
• What Are Nursing Home Residents’ Views on Dying and Death?
• How Often Should You Visit Your Mother in a Nursing Home?
• What Is the Difference Between a Residential Care Home and a Nursing Home?
• Should Elderly Parents Live in a Nursing Home or Not?
• What Is the Social Security Act of Nursing Home Facilities?
• How Can Human Resources Improve Nursing Home Management?
• What Are the Disadvantages of Living in a Nursing Home?
• How Important Is the Medical Aspect of a Nursing Home?
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128 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Nursing homes play a vital role in providing care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities who are unable to live independently. As a student studying nursing or healthcare, you may be required to write essays on various topics related to nursing homes. To help you get started, here are 128 nursing home essay topic ideas and examples.

• The importance of quality care in nursing homes
• Challenges faced by nursing homes in providing care for residents
• The role of nurses in nursing homes
• Strategies for improving communication between staff and residents in nursing homes
• The impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes
• Ethical considerations in nursing home care
• The benefits of music therapy for residents in nursing homes
• The role of social workers in nursing homes
• Addressing the mental health needs of residents in nursing homes
• The impact of technology on nursing home care
• Strategies for preventing falls in nursing homes
• The benefits of pet therapy in nursing homes
• The challenges of caring for residents with dementia in nursing homes
• The importance of cultural competence in nursing home care
• Strategies for promoting independence in nursing home residents
• The role of occupational therapy in nursing homes
• Addressing the nutritional needs of residents in nursing homes
• The impact of staff turnover on nursing home care
• The benefits of art therapy for residents in nursing homes
• Strategies for preventing and addressing elder abuse in nursing homes
• The role of family members in the care of nursing home residents
• The benefits of physical therapy for residents in nursing homes
• The challenges of providing end-of-life care in nursing homes
• Strategies for improving medication management in nursing homes
• The impact of staffing ratios on nursing home care
• The benefits of reminiscence therapy for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the spiritual needs of residents in nursing homes
• The role of case managers in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting socialization among residents in nursing homes
• The impact of regulatory requirements on nursing home care
• The benefits of aromatherapy for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ residents in nursing homes
• The role of physical activity in promoting health and well-being in nursing home residents
• Strategies for addressing the needs of residents with chronic pain in nursing homes
• The impact of social isolation on residents in nursing homes
• The benefits of gardening therapy for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with developmental disabilities in nursing homes
• The role of recreational therapy in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting dignity and respect for residents in nursing homes
• The impact of dementia-friendly design on nursing home care
• The benefits of mindfulness therapy for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with substance use disorders in nursing homes
• The role of speech therapy in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting staff wellness in nursing homes
• The impact of music and memory programs on residents in nursing homes
• The benefits of animal-assisted therapy for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with traumatic brain injuries in nursing homes
• The role of dietitians in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting cultural diversity in nursing homes
• The impact of environmental design on nursing home care
• The benefits of horticulture therapy for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with visual impairments in nursing homes
• The role of psychologists in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident empowerment in nursing homes
• The impact of technology on resident engagement in nursing homes
• The benefits of sensory stimulation for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with hearing impairments in nursing homes
• The role of chaplains in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting staff communication and collaboration in nursing homes
• The impact of person-centered care on nursing home residents
• The benefits of laughter therapy for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with mobility impairments in nursing homes
• The role of pharmacists in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident rights in nursing homes
• The impact of intergenerational programs on residents in nursing homes
• The benefits of art and music programs for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with intellectual disabilities in nursing homes
• The role of physical environment in promoting resident well-being in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting staff retention in nursing homes
• The impact of music and movement programs on residents in nursing homes
• The benefits of aromatherapy for residents with anxiety in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with post-traumatic stress disorder in nursing homes
• The role of nutrition in promoting resident health and well-being in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident autonomy and decision-making in nursing homes
• The impact of resident engagement in activities on overall well-being in nursing homes
• The benefits of pet therapy for residents with depression in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with bipolar disorder in nursing homes
• The role of recreational therapy in promoting resident socialization in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident safety in nursing homes
• The impact of resident satisfaction on quality of care in nursing homes
• The benefits of mindfulness meditation for residents in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with schizophrenia in nursing homes
• The role of social workers in advocating for resident rights in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in decision-making in nursing homes
• The impact of resident-centered care on quality of life in nursing homes
• The benefits of art therapy for residents with dementia in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with autism spectrum disorders in nursing homes
• The role of occupational therapy in promoting resident independence in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident well-being through environmental design in nursing homes
• The impact of resident empowerment on overall quality of care in nursing homes
• The benefits of music therapy for residents with Alzheimer's disease in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with Parkinson's disease in nursing homes
• The role of physical therapists in promoting resident mobility in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in physical activity in nursing homes
• The impact of resident-centered care on staff satisfaction in nursing homes
• The benefits of reminiscence therapy for residents with communication difficulties in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with aphasia in nursing homes
• The role of speech therapists in promoting resident communication in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in social activities in nursing homes
• The impact of resident-centered care on resident outcomes in nursing homes
• The benefits of music therapy for residents with depression in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with anxiety disorders in nursing homes
• The role of recreational therapists in promoting resident well-being in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in leisure activities in nursing homes
• The impact of resident-centered care on family satisfaction in nursing homes
• The benefits of art therapy for residents with PTSD in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with eating disorders in nursing homes
• The role of dieticians in promoting resident nutrition in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in meal planning and preparation in nursing homes
• The impact of resident-centered care on resident satisfaction in nursing homes
• The benefits of music therapy for residents with schizophrenia in nursing homes
• The role of psychologists in promoting resident mental health in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in cognitive activities in nursing homes
• The impact of resident-centered care on resident quality of life in nursing homes
• The benefits of art therapy for residents with developmental disabilities in nursing homes
• Addressing the needs of residents with physical disabilities in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in physical therapy in nursing homes
• The impact of resident-centered care on resident independence in nursing homes
• The role of occupational therapists in promoting resident independence in nursing homes
• Strategies for promoting resident engagement in occupational therapy in nursing homes

These nursing home essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of issues related to nursing home care. Whether you are writing a research paper, reflective essay, or informative piece, these topics can help you explore different aspects of nursing home care and contribute to the ongoing discussion on how to improve the quality of care for residents in nursing homes.

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How to Write a Nursing Essay with a Quick Guide

Ever felt the blank-page panic when assigned a nursing essay? Wondering where to start or if your words will measure up to the weight of your experiences? Fear not, because today, we're here to guide you through this process.

Imagine you're at your favorite coffee spot, armed with a cup of motivation (and maybe a sneaky treat). Got it? Great! Now, let's spill the secrets on how to spin your nursing tales into words that not only get you that A+ but also tug at the heartstrings of anyone reading. We've got your back with nursing essay examples that'll be your inspiration, an outline to keep you on the right path, and more!

What Is a Nursing Essay

Let's start by dissecting the concept. A nursing essay serves as a focused exploration of a specific aspect of nursing, providing an opportunity for students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and its practical application in patient care settings.

Picture it as a journey through the challenges and victories of a budding nurse. These essays go beyond the classroom, tackling everything from tricky ethical dilemmas to the impact of healthcare policies on the front lines. It's not just about grades; it's about proving, 'I'm ready for the real deal.'

So, when you read or write a nursing essay, it's not just words on paper. It's like looking into the world of someone who's about to start their nursing career – someone who's really thought about the ins and outs of being a nurse. And before you kick off your nursing career, don't shy away from asking - write my essay for me - we're ready to land a professional helping hand.

How to Start a Nursing Essay

When you start writing a nursing essay, it is like gearing up for a crucial mission. Here's your quick guide from our nursing essay writing service :

Choosing Your Topic: Select a topic that sparks your interest and relates to real-world nursing challenges. Consider areas like patient care, ethical dilemmas, or the impact of technology on healthcare.

Outline Your Route : Plan your essay's journey. Create a roadmap with key points you want to cover. This keeps you on track and your essay on point.

Craft a Strong Thesis: Assuming you already know how to write a hook , kick off your writing with a surprising fact, a thought-provoking quote, or a brief anecdote. Then, state your main argument or perspective in one sentence. This thesis will serve as the compass for your essay, guiding both you and your reader through the rest of your writing.

How to Structure a Nursing Essay

Every great essay is like a well-orchestrated performance – it needs a script, a narrative that flows seamlessly, capturing the audience's attention from start to finish. In our case, this script takes the form of a well-organized structure. Let's delve into the elements that teach you how to write a nursing essay, from a mere collection of words to a compelling journey of insights.

Nursing Essay Introduction

Begin your nursing essay with a spark. Knowing how to write essay introduction effectively means sharing a real-life scenario or a striking fact related to your topic. For instance, if exploring patient care, narrate a personal experience that made a lasting impression. Then, crisply state your thesis – a clear roadmap indicating the direction your essay will take. Think of it as a teaser that leaves the reader eager to explore the insights you're about to unfold.

In the main body, dive into the heart of your essay. Each paragraph should explore a specific aspect of your topic. Back your thoughts with examples – maybe a scenario from your clinical experience, a relevant case study, or findings from credible sources. Imagine it as a puzzle coming together; each paragraph adds a piece, forming a complete picture. Keep it focused and let each idea flow naturally into the next.

Nursing Essay Conclusion

As writing a nursing essay nears the end, resist the urge to introduce new elements. Summarize your main points concisely. Remind the reader of the real-world significance of your thesis – why it matters in the broader context of nursing. Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or a call to reflection, leaving your reader with a lasting impression. It's like the final scene of a movie that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

Nursing Essay Outline

Before diving into the essay, craft a roadmap – your outline. This isn't a rigid skeleton but a flexible guide that ensures your ideas flow logically. Consider the following template from our research paper writing service :

Introduction

• Opening Hook: Share a brief, impactful patient care scenario.
• Relevance Statement: Explain why the chosen topic is crucial in nursing.
• Thesis: Clearly state the main argument or perspective.

Patient-Centered Care:

• Definition: Clarify what patient-centered care means in nursing.
• Personal Experience: Share a relevant encounter from clinical practice.
• Evidence: Integrate findings from reputable nursing literature.

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice

• Scenario Presentation: Describe a specific ethical challenge faced by nurses.
• Decision-Making Process: Outline steps taken to address the dilemma.
• Ethical Frameworks: Discuss any ethical theories guiding the decision.

Impact of Technology on Nursing

• Current Trends: Highlight technological advancements in nursing.
• Case Study: Share an example of technology enhancing patient care.
• Challenges and Benefits: Discuss the pros and cons of technology in nursing.
• Summary of Key Points: Recap the main ideas from each section.
• Real-world Implications: Emphasize the practical significance in nursing practice.
• Closing Thought: End with a reflective statement or call to action.

A+ in Nursing Essays Await You!

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Nursing Essay Examples

Here are the nursing Essay Examples for you to read.

Writing a Nursing Essay: Essential Tips

When it comes to crafting a stellar nursing essay, a few key strategies can elevate your work from ordinary to exceptional. Here are some valuable tips from our medical school personal statement writer :

Connect with Personal Experiences:

• Approach: Weave personal encounters seamlessly into your narrative.
• Reasoning: This not only adds authenticity to your essay but also serves as a powerful testament to your firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs in the nursing field.

Emphasize Critical Thinking:

• Approach: Go beyond describing situations; delve into their analysis.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays are the perfect platform to showcase your critical thinking skills – an essential attribute in making informed decisions in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Incorporate Patient Perspectives:

• Approach: Integrate patient stories or feedback into your discussion.
• Reasoning: By bringing in the human element, you demonstrate empathy and an understanding of the patient's experience, a core aspect of nursing care.

Integrate Evidence-Based Practice:

• Approach: Support your arguments with the latest evidence-based literature.
• Reasoning: Highlighting your commitment to staying informed and applying current research underscores your dedication to evidence-based practice – a cornerstone in modern nursing.

Address Ethical Considerations:

• Approach: Explicitly discuss the ethical dimensions of your topic.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays provide a platform to delve into the ethical complexities inherent in healthcare, showcasing your ability to navigate and analyze these challenges.

Balance Theory and Practice:

• Approach: Connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
• Reasoning: By bridging the gap between theory and practice, you illustrate your capacity to apply academic knowledge effectively in the dynamic realm of nursing.

Highlight Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Approach: Discuss collaborative efforts with other healthcare professionals.
• Reasoning: Acknowledging the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare underscores your understanding of the importance of teamwork – a vital aspect of successful nursing practice.

Reflect on Lessons Learned:

• Approach: Conclude with a thoughtful reflection on personal growth or lessons from your exploration.
• Reasoning: This not only provides a satisfying conclusion but also demonstrates your self-awareness and commitment to continuous improvement as a nursing professional.

As we wrap up, think of your essay as a story about your journey into nursing. It's not just about getting a grade; it's a way to share what you've been through and why you want to be a nurse.

Imagine the person reading it – maybe a teacher, a future coworker, or someone starting their nursing journey. They're trying to understand your passion and why you care about nursing.

So, when you write, remember it's more than just an assignment. It's your chance to show why nursing matters to you. And if you ever need help – there's always support from our essay writer online .

Ready to Excel in Your Nursing School Essay?

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How to Write a Nursing Essay?

How can a nursing essay effectively address ethical considerations, what are some examples of evidence-based practices in nursing essays.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NursingAnswers.net. This essay should not be treated as an authoritative source of information when forming medical opinions as information may be inaccurate or out-of-date.

Reflection on an experience in a nursing home

Info: 1620 words (6 pages) Nursing Essay Published: 13th Feb 2020

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What working in a nursing home taught me about life, death, and America’s cultural values

by Valery Hazanov

The first thing I noticed when I began working in a nursing home was the smell. It's everywhere. A mix of detergent and hospital smell and, well, people in nursing homes wear diapers. It's one of those smells that takes over everything — if you're not used to it, it's hard to think about anything else.

Being in the nursing home is tough. People weep and smell and drool. Sometimes you can go on the floor and hear a woman in her 90s scream, "I want Mommy."

But it's also ordinary — just people living together: gossiping, daydreaming, reading, watching TV, scratching their back when it itches.

For the past eight months I have been working as a psychotherapist with dying patients in nursing homes in New York City. It's an unusual job for a psychotherapist — and the first one I took after graduating with a PhD in clinical psychology. My colleagues were surprised. "Why not a hospital? Or an outpatient clinic? Do the patients even have a psychiatric diagnosis?"

The short answer is that I wanted to see what death looks and feels like — to learn from it. I hope that I can also help someone feel a little less lonely, a little more (is there a measure to it?) reconciled.

I haven't gotten used to the smell yet. But I have been thinking a lot about the nursing home and the people who live and die there, and wanted to share what I learned.

1) At the end, only the important things remain

"This is all I have left," a patient recently told me, pointing to a photograph of himself and his wife.

It made me notice the things people bring to the nursing home. The rooms are usually small, so what people bring is important to them. If they have a family, there will be photos of them (most popular are the photos of grandchildren). There might also be a few cherished books, a get-well-soon card, a painting by a grandchild or a nephew, some clothes, maybe flowers. And that's about it. The world shrinks in the nursing home, and only a few things remain: things that feel important — like they're worth fighting for, while we still can.

2) Having a routine is key to happiness

More on dying well.

It's never too early to start thinking about your own death

I'm a little lazy. My ideal vacation is doing nothing, maybe on a deserted beach somewhere. I look in terror upon very scheduled, very planned people. Yet I have been noticing that doing nothing rarely fills me with joy, while doing something sometimes does. Hence, the conflict: Should I push myself to do things, or should I go with the flow and do things only when I feel like doing them? Being in a nursing home changed my perspective somewhat: I noticed that all the patients who do well follow a routine. Their routines are different but always involve some structure and internal discipline.

I am working with a 94-year-old woman. She wakes up at 6:30 am every day, makes her bed, goes for a stroll with a walker, eats breakfast, exercises in the "rehabilitation room," reads, eats lunch, naps, goes for another walk, drinks tea with a friend, eats dinner, and goes to bed. She has a well-defined routine. She pushes herself to do things, some of which are very difficult for her, without asking herself why it is important to do them. And, I think, this is what keeps her alive — her movement, her pushing, is her life.

Observing her, I have been coming to the conclusion that it might be true for all of us. And I often think about her when I am debating whether to go for a run or not, whether to write for a couple more hours or not, whether to finally get up from the couch and clean my apartment or not — she would do it, I know, so maybe I should, too.

3) Old people have the same range of emotions as everyone else

"You are so handsome. Are you married?" is something I hear only in extended-family gatherings and in nursing homes. People flirt with me there all the time. This has nothing to do with their age or health — but rather with whether they are shy. When we see someone who is in his 90s and is all bent and wrinkled and sits in a wheelchair, we might think he doesn't feel anything except physical pain — especially not any sexual urges. That's not true.

As long as people live, they feel everything. They feel lust and regret and sadness and joy. And denying that, because of our own discomfort, is one of the worst things we can do to old people.

Patients in nursing home gossip ("Did you know that this nurse is married to the social worker?"), flirt, make jokes, cry, feel helpless, complain of boredom. "What does someone in her 80s talk about?" a colleague asked me. "About the same things," I replied, "only with more urgency."

Some people don't get that, and talk to old people as if they were children. "How are we today, Mr. Goldstein?" I heard someone ask in a high-pitched voice of a former history professor in his 80s, and then without waiting for a response added, "Did we poopie this morning?" Yes, we did poopie this morning. But we also remembered a funny story from last night and thought about death and about our grandchildren and about whether we could sleep with you because your neck looks nice.

4) Old people are invisible in American culture

People at the nursing home like to watch TV. It's always on. How strange, then, that there are no old people on TV.

Here's a picture I see every day: It's the middle of the day and there is a cooking show or a talk show on, and the host is in her 50s, let's say, but obviously looks much younger, and her guest is in his 30s or 50s and also looks younger, and they talk in this hyper-enthusiastic voice about how "great!" their dish or their new movie is, or how "sad!" the story they just heard was. Watching them is a room full of pensive people in their 80s and 90s who are not quite sure what all the fuss is about. They don't see themselves there. They don't belong there.

I live in Brooklyn, and I rarely see old people around. I rarely see them in Manhattan, either. When I entered the nursing home for the first time I remember thinking that it feels like a prison or a psychiatric institution: full of people who are outside of society, rarely seen on the street. In other cultures, old people are esteemed and valued, and you see them around. In this manic, death-denying culture we live in, there seems to be little place for a melancholic outlook from someone that doesn't look "young!" and "great!" but might know something about life that we don't.

There isn't one Big Truth about life that the patients in the nursing home told me that I can report back; it's a certain perspective, a combination of all the small things. Things like this, which a patient in her 80s told me while we were looking outside: "Valery, one day you will be my age, God willing, and you will sit here, where I sit now, and you will look out of the window, as I do now. And you want to do that without regret and envy; you want to just look out at the world outside and be okay with not being a part of it anymore."

5) The only distraction from pain is spiritual

Some people in the nursing home talk about their physical pain all the time; others don't. They talk about other things instead, and it's rarely a sign of whether they are in pain or not.

Here's my theory: If for most of your life you are concerned with the mundane (which, think about it, always involves personal comfort) then when you get old and feel a lot of pain, that's going to be the only thing you're going to think about. It's like a muscle — you developed the mundane muscle and not the other one.

And you can't start developing the spiritual muscle when you're old. If you didn't really care about anything outside of yourself (like books, or sports, or your brother, or what is a moral life), you're not going to start when you're old and in terrible pain. Your terrible pain will be the only thing on your mind.

But if you have developed the spiritual muscle — not me, not my immediate comfort — you'll be fine; it will work. I have a couple of patients in their 90s who really care about baseball — they worried whether the Mets were going to make the playoffs this year, so they rarely talked about anything else; or a patient who is concerned about the future of the Jewish diaspora and talks about it most of our sessions; or a patient who was worried that not going to a Thanksgiving dinner because of her anxieties about her "inappropriately old" appearance was actually a selfish act that was not fair to her sister. Concerns like these make physical pain more bearable, maybe because they make it less important.

6) If you don't have kids, getting old is tough

The decision to have kids is personal, and consists of so many factors: financial, medical, moral, and so on. There are no rights or wrongs here, obviously. But when we are really old and drooling and wearing a diaper, and it's physically unpleasant to look at our wounds or to smell us, the only people who might be there consistently, when we need them, are going to be either paid to do so (which is okay but not ideal) or our children. A dedicated nephew might come from time to time. An old friend will visit.

But chances are that our siblings will be very old by then, and our parents will be dead, which leaves only children to be there when we need it. Think about it when you are considering whether to have children. The saddest people I see in the nursing home are childless.

7) Think about how you want to die

José Arcadio Buendía in One Hundred Years of Solitude dies under a tree in his own backyard. That's a pretty great death.

People die in different ways in the nursing home. Some with regrets; others in peace. Some cling to the last drops of life; others give way. Some planned their deaths and prepared for them — making their deaths meaningful, not random. A woman in her 90s recently told me, "Trees die standing tall." This is how she wants to go: standing, not crawling.

I think of death as a tour guide to my life — "Look here; pay attention to this!" the guide tells me. Maybe not the most cheerful one, slightly overweight and irritated, but certainly one who knows a lot and can point to the important things while avoiding the popular, touristy stuff. He can tell me that if I want to die under a tree in my backyard, for example, it might make sense to live in a house with a backyard and a tree. To you, he will say that if you don't want any extra procedures done to you at the end, it might make sense to talk about it with the people who will eventually make this decision. That if you want to die while hang-gliding over an ocean, then, who knows, maybe that's also possible.

My father, who has spent the past 30 years working in an ICU as a cardiologist and has seen many deaths, once told me that if he had to choose, he would choose dying well over living well — the misery of a terrible, regretful death feels worse to him than a misery of a terrible life, but a peaceful death feels like the ultimate reward. I think I am beginning to see his point.

I am 33. Sometimes it feels like a lot — close to the end; sometimes, it doesn't. Depends on the day, I guess. And like all of us, including the people in the nursing home, I am figuring things out, trying to do my best with the time I have. To not waste it.

Recently, I had a session with a woman in her 90s who has not been feeling well.

"It's going in a very clear direction," she told me. "Toward the end."

"It's true for all of us," I replied.

"No, sweetheart. There is a big difference: You have much more time."

Valery Hazanov, PhD , is a clinical psychologist in Brooklyn. He is writing a book about his training to become a psychotherapist.

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HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY ABOUT NURSING HOMES

Nurses play a vital role in the caring for our loved ones. They have tight schedules and are in various healthcare facilities. Today, nurses are involved in more challenging roles than what they were doing in the past as some of the work they are now doing, initially, was reserved for the physicians and the doctors as more areas introduced in the field of nursing than what it used to be in the past. As more medical research and advances continue, so is the growth of new specialties such as labor, psychiatry, pediatric that are being introduced by many nursing institutions ensuring that the students have the right skillsets after finishing their learning.

Nurses are care parents in most facilities as their individual responsibilities are the first vital skill they possess. Many of them come from different patients suffering from serious health problems. Juggling one’s emotions and the physical pressures to care and treat patients are some but of the few responsibilities, they should have.

So, why are most of them in most residential homes? Nursing homes are vital to the elderly community as they provide 24 hrs 7 days a week nursing care to the elderly. These homes also provide short-term stays for people with illnesses or injuries, those coming out of surgery, others who require therapy be it physical or occupational.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes started as early as the 17th Century. At that time, they were known as poorhouses or almshouses, which first came into existence in the US after the first English settlers, settled in their country. The poorhouses housed the poor elderly, mentally ill people and the orphans since they offered them a place to have shelter and daily meals.

For one to offer care to these homes, they require a nurse who is registered and must be present in the residential area for daily assessment of the patient’s health. Their job description involves the administering of medications, writing and implementing care plans and monitoring any medical changes that are visible and take the necessary steps.

Becoming a registered nurse requires one to complete nursing programs laid by their institutions and pass. Licensed practical nurses had to complete a state-approved the program and pass the national licensing examination for them to begin working in these facilities.

Also Read: Nursing Personal Statement Writing Service

There reaches a time where care is vital to the elderly. Most of them require assistance with daily activities which some may be tough or too much for them. The aged usually have bad or negative thoughts towards nursing homes but looking at the positive side, it does make more sense to offer health and safety to them an activity you may not be able to cope up. Therefore, what are the advantages of nursing homes?

Benefits of a Nursing Home

1. These facilities have expert trained staffs who are mostly nurses who offer great medical healthcare that is 24-hours a day. Nurses here are of various specialties i.e. Dieticians, Nutritionists etc. Who ensure proper health and nutrition given to the patient.

2. These homes offer social activities and community care to patients making them feel at home.

3. All homes registered with the state often require evaluation and reports sent to Medicare. It ensures that the facilities offer exceptional health and guidance to the elderly and that they run in the best possible manner.

4. A lot of demands that most of these patients require to seem costly, therefore, it will reduce the workload as some of the people may not have the time and resources needed for the great caring of the patients.

The average ages for many patients found in the facilities are between the ages of sixty and above. Although nursing homes are good, not all people are able to afford the payments required for their loved ones. Some of the institutions also find it difficult to obtain a license from the state as some of the standards cannot be easily met.

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120+ Fresh Nursing Essay Topics (With FAQs and Essay Writing Tips)

Be it writing a nursing assignment or preparing an essay to get admission to a nursing school, choosing the right nursing essay topic is of utmost importance.

An essay can make or break your chance of getting into that school or your chances of scoring the highest in the assignment.

Considering the importance of nursing essays, we have got you some handpicked nursing essay topics that will help you ace the exams.

The article is divided into 3 sections according to the difficulty level. You can opt for them according to your convenience.

You’ll also find an interesting list of topics in the miscellaneous section. So make sure to check that as well.

The following part of the article includes some tips on framing a well-structured essay.

 Basic Level Nursing Essay Topics

• Describe the role of nurses in society.
• What are nursing ethics?
• According to you, what are the challenges associated with nursing?
• Discuss nursing ethics.
• Importance of nursing care for infants.
• What are the possible reasons behind a fewer number of male nurses?
• Throw some light on nurses’ practice act.
• Why is there a need for significant leadership in nursing?
• What are the steps you need to take to cure minor wounds?
• What are the steps you need to take to cure severe wounds?
• Discuss the steps that nurses should take to deal with hyperactive patients and their relatives?
• Are there any differences faced by nurses as compared to doctors when it comes to respect and value?
• What measures can nurses take to cure serious wounds when not having any instruments?
• What steps can nurses take to deal with patients in backward regions, where there is a lack of medical infrastructure?
• Analyze the problems with medical infrastructure.
• How to strengthen medical infrastructure?
• How to perform home nursing?
• Steps to improve mental health.
• Discuss the pitfalls of dieting.
• Importance of technology in nursing.

Moderate Level Nursing Essay Topics

• Throw some light on holistic nursing.
• Should we allow nurses to prescribe medication or antibiotics?
• Discuss the risks associated with nurses prescribing medication?
• Discuss the problems associated with the compensation of nursing jobs.
• How should nurses deal with abusive or rude patients?
• How can civilians be helpful to nurses in treating their patients?
• Infant mortality and its possible causes.
• How to prepare a nursing resume to apply for a job?
• Mental impact on nurses.
• Basic theories to apply in nursing.
• Nursing in India: from struggle to victory.
• Soft skills required in nursing.
• Reasons to choose nursing as a profession.
• How to teach nursing?
• How to deal with depression being a nurse.
• How to deal with patients with dementia initially?
• What efforts should be made to make patients’ stay in neonatal units more pleasant?
• Legalizing euthanasia.
• Importance of midwifery. Is it underestimated?
• How can we help pharmacies strike a balance between helping the patients and earning a profit?

Advanced Level Nursing Essay Topics

• Significance of psychological training to ensure efficient medical working.
• Has covid-19 impacted the chances of nursing being a chosen profession?
• How to avoid hospitalization in covid-19?
• Measure to enhance the efficiency of nurses as assistants of doctors.
• What can nurses do to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease?
• Express your views on applying Henderson’s principles in the nursing area.
• How to convince people to donate organs?
• Chronic diseases and covid-19 pandemic.
• Discuss pediatric ethics.
• Explain acute coronary syndrome.
• Explain the cause behind anxiety disorders.
• Write on obesity and weight management programs.
• What precautions should be taken in the postnatal period?
• Dealing with gestational weight gain challenges.
• Precautions to be taken pre and post-delivery.
• Joint disorders study in elderly people.
• What are geriatrics ethics?
• Menarche and menopause challenges and symptoms.
• Explain reproductive endocrinology.
• Therapeutic injections: pros and cons.

List of Nursing Argumentative Essay Topics

• Are nurses more vulnerable to health risks than doctors?
• How does the increased number of working hours impact the working of nurses?
• Is nursing a female-centric profession?
• How important is the role of a nurse when compared with that of a doctor?
• Difference in the salary paid to day shift nurses vs. night shift nurses
• What should be the adequate amount of nursing staff to have in a hospital?
• Should more emphasis be laid on home nursing?
• How is racial discrimination a problem in nursing?
• Are nurses more empathetic than doctors?
• How important is it for a nurse to work on her emotions?

Miscellaneous Topics for Students Nursing Research

• Nursing Theory: 
• Nursing theory history and significance
• Strategies for theory construction in nursing
• Nursing theory vs. nursing practice
• Person-centered nursing: theory and practice
• Areas of agreement in nursing theory development
• Nursing Education:
• Critical thinking in nursing education : Literature review
• Future challenges for nursing education
• Curriculum development in nursing education
• New nursing education structure in US/UK/Asia
• Creating innovative models of clinical nursing education
• Nursing Care: 
• Transcultural concepts in nursing care
• Basic principles of nursing care
• Factors influencing why nursing care is missed
• Measuring patients’ satisfaction with nursing care
• Spiritual nursing care: state of the art
• Pharmacology for nursing care
• Nursing Interventions:
• The systematic development of nursing interventions
• The impact of nursing interventions
• Nursing interventions for smoking cessation
• Nursing interventions for patients with chronic conditions
• Nursing interventions for premature infants
• Nursing interventions to promote functional feeding
• Nursing Homes:
• Nursing homes in developed and developing nations: a comparison
• Characteristics of nursing homes that affect resident outcomes
• Infections among patients in nursing homes
• Nursing homes and COVID‐19: What has changed?
• Abuse of patients in nursing homes
• Family involvement in nursing homes
• Nursing Leadership 
• Factors contributing to nursing leadership
• Nursing leadership and patient outcomes
• Leadership and management in nursing
• Transformational leadership in nursing
• ethical leadership in nursing
• Nursing Diagnosis:
• Nursing diagnosis process and it’s relation with critical thinking skills
• Application of nursing process and nursing diagnosis
• Do staff nurses use nursing diagnosis effectively?
• Methods to validate nursing diagnoses
• Accuracy of nursing diagnoses: How effective are they?
• Nurse Burnout:
• Nurse burnout and quality of care
• Nurse burnout: personal and environmental factors
• Impact of nurse burnout on organization
• Predictors of burnout among nurses in US, UK, India
• Pediatric nurse burnout
• Nurse Staffing: 
• Nurse staffing and inpatient hospital mortality
• Hospital nurse staffing and quality of care
• Nurse Patient Ratios
• The effects of nurse staffing on medical costs
• Nurse staffing in critical care and how it affects patient outcome
• Nurse Practitioner Role
• Barriers to developing nurse practitioner role
• Analyze nurse practitioner role in acute care settings
• How case-study research can better implement nurse practitioner role
• Practice and clinical leadership: The core role of the nurse practitioner
• Neonatal nurse practitioner role
• 200+ Great Ideas of Nursing Research Topics to Get Started

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do you start writing a nursing essay.

The following section includes some tips on how to write a well-curated nursing essay.

• Plan your essay- you need to have a well-planned outline of the essay to write an outstanding one.

Spend a good amount of time in research and shortlist the things that you would want to include, things that you would want to highlight or your personal story if any.

• Start writing- Start your essay with a statement that is catchy and strong. Include an adequate amount of research and evidence to support your point in the body. End it with a conclusion stating a summary of the essay.
• Revision- go through the content and look for grammatical or spelling errors, if any. Focus on the structure of the essay.

2. List tips on how to write a nursing school application essay.

• Focus on being informative- while framing the essay, be mindful of the information you include. Make sure it is backed by some evidence.
• Select the best essay topic- go for such a topic that makes the officers remember you after they have read the essay. At the same time, make sure you are comfortable writing on it.
• Check the structure- the essay should be divided into 3 parts- introduction, body and conclusion. Make it readable and easy to understand.

To sum it up, when you kick-start writing a research paper, make sure you move ahead step-by-step.

Since research is the first step in writing the essay, you first have to gather all the essential list of information that is relevant to your nursing essay topic.

Next, handpick the information and come up with an essay that is well-curated and backed by evidence.

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Nursing Homes In The US Argumentative Essay Samples

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Elderly , Health , Home , Medicine , Services papers , Nursing , Family , Love

Words: 2500

Published: 03/16/2020

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Employing the services of Nursing Homes is becoming a huge trend in the United States in recent years. Families can bring their elderly and ailing love ones to these nursing homes and pay for a certain cost to support their treatment. However, there is a growing debate within the country with regards to the use of these nursing homes as some groups believe families should take care of their love ones at home. Supporters to these alternative facilities argue that nursing homes would provide better care to their love ones, especially given the financial and living conditions. This paper will discuss the arguments surrounding the use of nursing home for love ones and answer as to why placing them to these homes would be beneficial or disadvantageous for the families thinking of using the service.

Placing Love Ones in Nursing Homes

When a person reaches the age of 70, family members would start clamoring for ideas as to what would be done in order to take care of their elderly family member. Some families opt to consider assigning someone to take care of their love ones at home due to the strict schedules of people today. Others would take care of their love ones by themselves due to the sentiment that it is the child’s responsibility to give back to their love ones. However, in recent years, there is a growing interest in many families to seek the assistance of nursing homes in order to take care of these elderly or ailing family members. Positions have greatly varied within the public regarding the presence of these nursing homes. Some argue that these nursing homes should not be trusted, while a few welcome its use. Families should place their love ones in nursing homes because these love ones would be taken care well by these nursing homes as they specialize in taking care of the specialized needs of these elderly and ailing family members despite the costs it entails. The exact definition of nursing homes have varied throughout the years given the lack of terminology for these services in the early years. However, according to Giacalone (2001), the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) defined nursing homes as “facilities with three or more beds that is either licensed as a nursing home by the state, certified as a nursing facility under Medicare or Medicaid, identified as a nursing unit in a retirement center, or determined to provide nursing or medical care”. Some institutions also call these facilities as extended care facilities, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and SNFs. Nursing homes often have state-of-the-art medical facilities and medical staff that can be called to duty 24/7. Before nursing homes can operate in the United States, they would have to apply for state licenses and adhere to reimbursement regulations, classification and termination policies. Most of these policies vary per state and some states would require separate licenses for nursing homes that have separate operations on all-day care facilities or medical accreditation . Purdy (2013) stated that nursing homes became known in the US since the 1930 when many American families brought their ailing family members to “poor houses.” Many criticized these poor houses due to their deplorable living conditions and health care. In 1935, the Congress passed the Social Security Act which was included in the New Deal program to support its aging population. Federal grants were given per state in order to improve health care, as well as the creation of nursing homes for the elderly and ailing. By the 1950s, nursing homes were licensed and at the same time, criticized for their operations. From the 50s to the 80s, exploitation was prominent in the industry and misled many Americans in the process. The government immediately responded in 1965 by passing the Older Americans Act and the Title III grants which would establish the community program for the elderly which would cater not just for their medical needs but also for their maintenance. Studies were also supportive over the initiative of the government and aided in the establishment of the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, which would regulate Medicare and Medicaid in providing financial assistance to nursing homes. The Act also added the necessary requirements for nursing home licensing. Since the growth of these nursing homes throughout the country, there are several sentiments that have been raised with regards to leaving loved ones in these nursing homes. Opponents cited three major arguments against nursing homes: cost and quality, reduction of self-reliance and independence and the trauma it entails to the loved ones. In terms of costs, it is reported by Ellis (2013) that nursing home services now costs up to $80,000 a year in comparison to its $67,527 five years ago. According to the Genworth 2013 Cost of Care Survey, factors such as insurance, food, maintenance and labor have triggered the increase of nursing home costs. As a result of these higher costs, a simple semi-private room nowadays now rate up to $75,405, 23% higher than it was five years ago. With these high fees, people tend to prefer using assistive living facilities that cost only up to $41,400. Others also prefer at-home care because it is cheaper to do these treatments at home, and they would also find it cheaper to pay for food and services . Hand in hand with the high costs is the quality of care these nursing homes can provide to family’s loved ones. Pesis-Katz, Phelps, Temkin-Greener, Spector, Veazie, and Mukamel (2013) stated that consumers are often misled by the high hotel-like quality of nursing homes around the country due to the misleading and inaccurate information available. Some of the information available for prospect residents come from the internet and sometimes, it is not easy to understand. Since customers cannot interpret and understand the information with regards to the quality of health care, they often prefer to select nursing homes with high grade hotel type service. They often use indirect methods to observe if the nursing home is good for their love ones. Some factors they take into consideration are nonprofit ownership and the number of occupancy, seeing it as a sign for high quality for its service and capability. As a result of the inconsistency of information, it is likely that the service they would get would not be suitable for their love ones . Loved ones who are placed in these nursing homes also feel the reduction of self-reliance and independence. According to the Illinois Council on Long Term Care (n.d.), any person who is admitted to nursing homes would lose their privileges to keep their apartments and homes. Most of their possessions would also be sold or given to charity, removing the possibility for the person to give the possessions as an inheritance to their children or grandchildren. Nursing homes only allow just a few possessions for these loved ones to hold; however, they would have to fit it on a small space that sometimes, they share with another person. Aside from losing their homes, loved ones admitted to nursing homes would also cause a loss of status, finances and relationships that may affect the loved one’s confidence and independence. Residents are also restricted from their movements considering that every activity is now timed by the institution and where the resident would need to stay. Finally, there are also implications to loved ones when they are placed in nursing homes, mostly changing their attitudes and development of trauma. Many would become angry for being placed in a nursing home especially with the loss of their possessions and rights. Some elderly often get angry because of the restrictions placed on their movements while in these institutions. As a result of their anger, they would become trouble-makers in the nursing home and it may hinder their recovery. Some, especially those who lose their love ones prior to their admission to these institutions, would feel bouts of depression or even regression. These residents would become overly dependent towards their caretakers or their love ones. There are also bouts of denial for these residents as they would feel that their condition or placement in the nursing home is not true. They believe that they would be removed from these centers soon and go home afterwards . However, while there are people against the use of nursing homes in the country, many Americans today prefer to use nursing homes due to the benefits it has for both the family and the love one that would be enrolled in this service. Many often prefer sending their loved ones on these nursing homes due to the all-round care provided by these facilities. According to the report by Sun Advocate (2008) and EHealthMedicare (n.d.), many of America’s nursing homes have available professionals to cater to emergencies and immediate medical support 24 hours a day. While doctors may not always be available in the early hours of the day, nurses are trained to take care of their patients and do rounds regularly. If these love ones were taken care of at home, their family members would not be able to cater to the exact need of the ailing or elderly loved one. The family would have to adopt with the schedule of the elder, which may prevent them from going to their own duties on time. With nursing homes available, families can visit their family members on free days and be assured that their love ones are treated and monitored regularly. In addition, these professionals and personnel can also provide specialized treatment necessary to improve the health and well-being of the citizen. Nursing homes have custodial care, which aids in preparing meals, bathing and dressing for their residences. The skilled nursing care unite is where the nurses and rehabilitation specialist would determine what type of care or treatment would be done. This type of care would include activities such as medication management, wound care and specialized functions depending on the availability of medical equipment in the facility. Some facilities also offer rehabilitation services, especially for patients which have been placed under surgery and other strenuous activity. The doctor of the resident would be able to determine as to how long rehabilitation would occur. Finally, nursing homes are also well known for their long-term care facilities to aid patients with major diseases. Prescription drugs and medical supplies are also readily available for use by these workers to ensure continuous service and treatment for residents. Nursing homes also allow their love ones to meet up new friends and acquaintances as nursing homes are like small communities. In at-home treatments and care, the elderly or ailing family member would only have limited contact with their peers. However, in nursing homes, they are able to be with their age group and even go on regular social gatherings and celebrations: may it be visits to museums or simple group meals in the nursing home. In some instances, nursing homes actually incite socialization given that the nursing home acts as a special home for its patients and residents. They can use the open kitchens and public areas to meet up with their fellow residents. Nursing homes also may have sectors catering for other in-need residents, who are not necessarily elderly. They may also find certain nursing homes that would permit couples in staying together to provide a good environment for their development and recovery. Nursing homes are also quite safe and promises to provide excellent service as these nursing homes are regularly checked by the United States government for their capacity and services. Medicare and Medicaid also provide regular reviews to the public in order to determine which nursing homes adhere to their policies. Evaluations are done regularly to ensure that quality is not compromised and it is expected that nursing homes update their programs to stay up-to-date to the new improvements in healthcare . Nursing homes also make sure that patients do not endanger themselves further especially with the onset of very complicated diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s . Family must always be cherished no matter what one feels about each family member. As these family members get older, it is crucial that they are given all the love and care possible to make their lives comfortable in their final years. However, taking care of these ailing and elderly family members can be very difficult especially due to the medical and financial needs of these loved ones. With the introduction of nursing homes, families now have a choice to use these services to take care of their love ones. On the one hand, these nursing homes can be quite costly each year and it is a question as to whether or not the service matches the cost. These nursing homes can even make the situation of the elderly and ailing family members to worsen due to the impact of their residencies. On the other hand, using nursing homes not only benefits the family member but also the family in general. The family member would greatly benefit due to the ready access to health care, while family members would be relieved with the financial burden attached with taking care of these love ones.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, May 14). Nursing Home Care. Retrieved from CDC FastStats: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/nursing-home-care.htm EHealth Medicare. (n.d.). Nursing Homes and Medicare. Retrieved from EHealthMedicare: http://www.ehealthmedicare.com/about-medicare/nursing-homes/ Ellis, B. (2013, April 9). Nursing home costs top $80,000. Retrieved from CNN Money: http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/09/retirement/nursing-home-costs/ Giacalone, J. (2001). The U.S. Nursing Home Industry. New York: M.E. Sharpe. Illinois Council on Long Term Care. (n.d.). Understanding the Transition to Life in a Nursing Home. Retrieved from Family Resource Center: http://nursinghome.org/fam/fam_004.html Pesis-Katz, I., Phelps, C. E., Temkin-Greener, H., Spector, W. D., Veazie, P., & Mukamel, D. B. (2013). Making Difficult Decisions: The Role of Quality of Care in Choosing a Nursing Home. American Journal of Public Health, 103(5). Purdy, E. (2013). Nursing homes. Ipswich: Salem Press. Sun Advocate. (2009, April 10). Advantages and disadvantages of nursing home care for the elderly. Retrieved from Sun Advocate: http://www.sunad.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=12944

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Nursing Essay Examples

Nursing Essay Examples That Will Help You Write a Stellar Paper

Published on: May 6, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

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Many nursing students struggle with writing effective nursing essays, which are an essential part of their education and professional development.

Poor essay writing skills can lead to low grades and an inability to effectively communicate important information.

This blog provides a comprehensive guide to writing nursing essays with examples and tips for effective writing. Whether you are a nursing student or a professional looking to improve your writing skills, this blog has something for you. 

By following the tips and examples provided, you can write compelling nursing essays that showcase your dedication to the field.

Let’s get started.

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What is a Nursing Essay?

A nursing essay is a type of academic writing that aims to explore a particular topic related to nursing. It also presents a clear and concise argument or viewpoint supported by evidence. 

Nursing essays can take many forms, including:

• Descriptive essays
• Reflective essays
• Analytical essays
• Persuasive essays

What is the Importance of the Nursing Essay?

Nursing essays are important for several reasons. First, they help nursing students develop critical thinking skills by requiring them to analyze and evaluate information.

Second, they help students develop research skills by requiring them to locate and use credible sources to support their arguments. 

Third, nursing essays help students develop communication skills by requiring them to present their ideas clearly and concisely in writing. Finally, nursing essays are important for nursing education because they prepare students for the types of writing.

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To help students better understand how to write nursing essays, it can be helpful to review examples.

Below are some examples of nursing essays.

Nursing School Essay Examples

College Nursing Essay Examples

Graduate Nursing Essay Examples

Nursing Scholarship Essay Examples

Nursing Essay Conclusion Examples

Nursing Essay Examples of Different Fields

Nursing is a diverse field with many different specialties and areas of focus. As a result, nursing essays can take many different forms and cover a wide range of topics. 

Given below are some examples of different types of nursing essays:

Personal Philosophy Of Nursing - Essay Examples

Cal State Fullerton Nursing Essay Examples

Evidence Based Practice Nursing In Medical Field - Essay Examples

Leadership In Nursing And Healthcare Professionals - Essay Examples

Principles Of Professional Practice Of Nursing Professionals And Pharmacists

If you're seeking additional examples of nursing essays, you're in luck! 

Below are some more examples that can help you gain a better understanding of nursing essays:

Health Care And Reflective Models For Nursing - Essay Examples

History Of Nursing Essay Examples

Ethical Dilemma In Nurses Work - Essay Examples

Mental Health Nursing Essay Examples

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

Working In A Team And Collaboration In Nursing

How to Write a Nursing Essay

Writing a nursing essay can seem daunting, but with the right approach, it can be a rewarding experience.

Here are the key steps involved in writing a nursing essay:

Understanding the Topic and Question

The first step in writing a nursing essay is to carefully read and understand the topic and question. 

This will help you determine what information you need to research and include in your essay. Make sure you understand any key terms or concepts related to the topic. Consider different perspectives or viewpoints that may be relevant.

Researching the Topic

Once you have a clear understanding of the topic and question, it's time to research. 

Start by gathering information from credible sources such as academic journals, textbooks, and government websites. 

Consider both primary and secondary sources, and make sure to take detailed notes as you read.

Organizing and Outlining the Essay

Once you have completed your research, it's time to organize your ideas and create an outline for your essay. 

Start by identifying the main points or arguments you want to make, and then organize them into a logical order that flows well. 

Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Writing the Essay

With your outline in place, it's time to start writing your essay. Make sure to follow your outline closely, and use clear and concise language that effectively communicates your ideas. 

Use evidence from your research to support your arguments, and cite your sources appropriately.

Editing and Revising the Essay

Once you have completed a first draft of your essay, take some time to edit and revise it. Look for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation, and make sure your essay is well-organized and flows well. 

Consider asking a peer or instructor to review your essay and provide feedback.

What To Include In Your Nursing Essay

When writing a nursing essay, there are several key elements that you should include. Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Introduction

Your introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic and purpose of your essay. It should also include a clear thesis statement that presents your main argument or point of view.

• Background Information

Provide some background information on the topic to help the reader better understand the context of your essay. This can include relevant statistics, historical information, or other contextual details.

• Evidence and Examples

Use evidence and examples from your research to support your arguments and demonstrate your knowledge of the topic. Make sure to cite your sources appropriately and use a variety of sources to strengthen your argument.

• Analysis and Evaluation

Provide analysis and evaluation of the evidence and examples you've presented. This can include discussing strengths and weaknesses, comparing and contrasting different viewpoints, or offering your own perspective on the topic.

Your conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement. It should also offer some final thoughts or suggestions for further research or action.

Nursing Essay Topic Ideas

Choosing a topic for your nursing essay can be challenging, but there are many areas in the field that you can explore. Here are some nursing essay topic ideas to consider:

• The role of technology in nursing practice
• The impact of cultural diversity on healthcare delivery
• Nursing leadership and management in healthcare organizations
• Ethical issues in nursing practice
• The importance of patient-centered care in nursing practice
• The impact of evidence-based practice on nursing care
• The role of nursing in promoting public health
• Nursing education and the importance of lifelong learning
• The impact of nursing shortages on healthcare delivery
• The importance of communication in nursing practice

These are just a few ideas to get you started. You can also explore other topics related to nursing that interest you or align with your academic or professional goals. 

Remember to choose a topic that is relevant, interesting, and feasible to research and write about.

Tips for Writing an Effective Nursing Essay

Writing a successful nursing essay requires careful planning, research, and attention to detail. Here are some tips to help you write an effective nursing essay:

• Writing Concisely and Clearly

Nursing essays should be written in clear and concise language, avoiding unnecessary jargon or technical terms. Use simple language and short sentences to help ensure that your ideas are communicated clearly and effectively.

• Stating a Clear Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement should clearly state your main argument and provide a roadmap for the rest of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and located at the end of your introduction.

• Using Proper Citation and Referencing

Citing and referencing your sources is crucial in any academic writing, including nursing essays. Make sure to use proper citation and referencing styles, such as APA or MLA. Include a reference list or bibliography at the end of your essay.

• Seeking Feedback and Revising

Before submitting your nursing essay, seek feedback from peers, professors, or writing tutors. Use their feedback to revise and improve your essay. Make sure that it is well-structured, coherent, and effectively communicates your point of view.

By following these tips, you can write a nursing essay that demonstrates your knowledge and skills in the field.

In conclusion, writing a successful nursing essay requires careful planning, research, and attention to detail. 

To showcase your knowledge in the field of nursing, it is important to have a clear understanding of the topic at hand. When writing your nursing essay, be sure to include relevant examples, incorporate current research, and use proper citation and referencing. 

And remember , seeking feedback and revising your essay is key to ensuring that it effectively communicates your ideas and arguments.

If you need help with your nursing essay or any other type of academic writing, consider using our AI essay writer . 

Our nursing essay writing service can provide personalized support to help you succeed in your academic goals.

So, why wait? Contact us to get college essay writing help today! 

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Nursing Home — How working at a nursing home can change your perspective of life

How Working at a Nursing Home Can Change Your Perspective of Life

• Categories: Nursing Home

About this sample

Words: 969 |

Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 969 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Works Cited

• Caffrey, C. (2015). Reasons given by certified nursing assistants for staying in or leaving the nursing home: A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Nursing Home Research Sciences, 1, 8-15.
• Castle, N. G., Engberg, J., Anderson, R., & Men, A. (2007). Job satisfaction of nurse aides in nursing homes: Intent to leave and turnover. The Gerontologist, 47(2), 193-204.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2019). Nursing Home Data Compendium 2019 Edition.
• Gruber-Baldini, A. L., Zimmerman, S., Boustani, M., Watson, L. C., Williams, C. S., Reed, P. S., & Sloane, P. D. (2005). Characteristics associated with depression in long-term care residents with dementia. The Gerontologist, 45(Suppl_1), 50-55.
• Harrington, C., Choiniere, J., Goldmann, M., Jacobsen, F. F., Lloyd, L., McGregor, M., & Stamatopoulos, V. (2012). Nursing home staffing standards and staffing levels in six countries. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(1), 88-98.
• Kane, R. L., Lum, T. Y., Cutler, L. J., Degenholtz, H. B., & Yu, T. C. (2007). Resident outcomes in small-house nursing homes: A longitudinal evaluation of the initial Green House program. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55(6), 832-839.
• Kelley, S. J. (2007). Providing a therapeutic environment in nursing homes. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 33(11), 48-55.
• Mor, V., & Wiener, J. M. (2018). Nursing home staffing: Who's minding the residents? Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 43(2), 225-252.
• Zimmerman, S., Shier, V., Saliba, D., & Schnelle, J. F. (2014). Resident outcomes across 2 years in Green House and other small‐home nursing homes compared with traditional nursing homes. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62(12), 2297-2304.
• Zisberg, A., Shadmi, E., Sinoff, G., Gur-Yaish, N., & Srulovici, E. (2011). Secrets of the trade: On the management and organization of nursing work in elderly care. Health Services Research, 46(6pt1), 1770-1789.

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Wishes and Needs of Nursing Home Residents: A Scoping Review

Roxana schweighart.

1 Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany; [email protected]

Julie Lorraine O’Sullivan

2 Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; [email protected]

Malte Klemmt

3 Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; [email protected] (M.K.); [email protected] (S.N.)

Andrea Teti

Silke neuderth.

Falling birth rates and rising life expectancy are leading to global aging. The proportional increase in older people can be observed in almost all countries and regions worldwide. As a result, more people spend their later years in nursing homes. In homes where person-centered care is implemented, residents report greater satisfaction and quality of life. This approach is based on the wishes and needs of the residents. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to explore the wishes and needs of nursing home residents. A scoping review of the literature was conducted in which 12 databases were systematically searched for relevant articles according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Both quantitative and qualitative study designs were considered. A total of 51 articles met the inclusion criteria. Included articles were subjected to thematic analysis and synthesis to categorize findings into themes. The analysis identified 12 themes to which the wishes and needs were assigned: (1) Activities, leisure, and daily routine; (2) Autonomy, independence, choice, and control; (3) Death, dying, and end-of-life; (4) Economics; (5) Environment, structural conditions, meals, and food; (6) Health condition; (7) Medication, care, treatment, and hygiene; (8) Peer relationship, company, and social contact; (9) Privacy; (10) Psychological and emotional aspects, security, and safety; (11) Religion, spirituality; and (12) Sexuality. Nursing home residents are not a homogeneous group. Accordingly, a wide range of needs and wishes are reported in the literature, assigned to various topics. This underscores the need for tailored and person-centered approaches to ensure long-term well-being and quality of life in the nursing home care setting.

1. Introduction

Declines in fertility rates and increases in life expectancy are leading to global population aging. The proportional growth of older people in almost all countries and regions worldwide supports this premise [ 1 ]. This demographic change is considered one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century by the United Nations [ 1 ].

In parallel, the number of older people in need of care is also increasing. In Germany, for instance, more than 800,000 people were receiving full inpatient care in a nursing home (NH) at the end of 2019 [ 2 ]. These trends bring forth the projection that by 2030 there will be a demand for 1.3 million NH places [ 3 ].

Quality of care and residents’ quality of life is still suboptimal in some NHs. Efforts are being made to implement a culture change to improve the quality of the homes [ 4 ]. This change is intended to shift away from a focus on physical care and a standardized approach to person-centered and individualized care. The person-centered approach is holistic and views residents as individuals. Respectful discourse with the resident is fundamental to promote care oriented to resident needs and values [ 4 , 5 ].

In NHs where person-centered care is implemented, residents are more satisfied with the quality of care and service. Life satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and quality of life are also higher among residents of homes with person-centered care [ 6 , 7 ]. Implementation of person-centered care for NH residents requires a foundation built on the recognition of their wishes and needs. Thus, fulfilled wishes and needs lead to greater life satisfaction [ 8 ]. Consequently, identifying and addressing these can improve quality of life and care for NH residents. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to provide an empirical overview of the range of wishes and needs of NH residents. Previous reviews have already assessed the wishes and needs of older people. However, these have focused either on people receiving home care [ 9 ] or exclusively on NH residents with dementia [ 10 , 11 ].

We conducted the present review in accordance with the framework proposed by Peters et al. from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) [ 12 ]. The framework includes the following nine steps:

(1) Defining and aligning the objective and question; (2) Developing and aligning the inclusion and exclusion criteria with the objective and question; (3) Describing the planned approach to evidence searching, selection, data extraction, and presentation of the evidence; (4) Searching for the evidence; (5) Selecting the evidence; (6) Extracting the evidence; (7) Analyzing of the evidence; (8) Presenting the results; and (9) Summarizing the evidence in relation to the purpose of the review, making conclusions, and noting any implications of the findings.

We registered the protocol for the study in advance on the Center for Open Science (OSF) in October 2020 [ 13 ]. The review process was conducted and the findings were documented and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist [ 14 ].

2.1. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Beforehand, the authors defined the inclusion and exclusion criteria jointly and recurrently reviewed these during the process. Empirical qualitative and quantitative articles that included wishes and needs of people living permanently in a NH were included in the review. Both articles with self-reported and proxy-reported wishes and needs were considered. On average, residents were required to be 60 years of age or older. In addition, we considered only articles published between the years 1990 and 2020 written in English or German. Of interest were studies that included the constructs “wishes” and/or “needs”. To assure this, a definition was established in advance. Generally speaking, defining wishes and needs includes the initiation of a desire, fulfillment, and a positive resulting effect. In detail, wishes and needs are:

Any desire or craving that the person subjectively feels within him- or herself, whether this is material or immaterial, for change or preservation, already fulfilled or still unfulfilled, realistic or unrealistic, current or future, more or less urgent. The fulfillment of this desire causes a positive effect within the person. This positive effect can be related to the quality of life, satisfaction, self-image, autonomy, and any other aspect of the person’s life.

We excluded articles addressing people who were, on average, under 60 years old or people who did not live in a NH. We only included original empirical studies that had already been published in a journal in order to ensure, as far as possible, that only relevant and high-quality studies were considered. Accordingly, gray literature, conference proceedings, books, book chapters, reviews, and dissertations were rejected.

2.2. Searching for the Evidence

We explored relevant journal articles in 12 databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LIVIVO, Embase, Cochrane Library, GeroLit, SCOPUS, AgeLine, SowiPort, WiSo, and Psyndex) during August and September 2020. A search strategy was developed for each database. Table 1 . Search Terms contains the specific search terms in English and German.

Search Terms in English and German.

2.3. Selecting the Evidence

The article selection went through several phases. Three authors completed the database search separately, so each searched four databases. The studies identified by the database search were first screened by title and abstract by one author regarding relevance and fulfillment of the inclusion criteria. The remaining articles were sequentially screened for duplications and removed if necessary. In a final step, each article was screened for relevance and compliance with the inclusion criteria independently by two authors based on the full text. In case of discrepancies between the reviewers, the third author was consulted. Figure 1 . Search flowchart following PRISMA guidelines illustrates the details of the article search.

Search flowchart following PRISMA guidelines.

Of the 1356 articles initially discovered through the database search, 51 articles met the inclusion criteria.

2.4. Extracting the Evidence

The included articles underwent a structured data extraction by three authors capturing essential study information. These include author(s), year, title, journal (number and page), country, sampling strategy, sample characteristics, design and method, data analysis, and relevant results. The reviewer’s name, who performed the extraction, and the data extraction date were also recorded. For quantitative studies, the five most frequently identified wishes and needs were extracted in each case to ensure that the most relevant outcomes were included.

2.5. Analysis of the Evidence

After extraction, the relevant results (which relate to the research question and thus to the wishes and needs of the NH residents) were analyzed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke [ 15 ]. We developed a category system inductively on the 51 included studies following this approach. Three authors performed the thematic analysis and synthesis. Agreement between the authors led to final system revisions, checks for consistency, and the decision to group individual needs in their context and assignment to the top themes.

3.1. Characteristics of the Included Articles

The final analysis includes 51 articles consisting of 28 studies with a quantitative study design, 20 with a qualitative design, and three mixed-methods studies. Of the 28 quantitative studies, 26 were cross-sectional surveys and two were longitudinal. Questionnaires were used to collect data on 26 studies, one of which was a cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT). The Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly questionnaire (CANE) [ 16 ] was used for 10 studies, while four studies used the Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory-Nursing Home questionnaire (PELI-NH) [ 17 ]. Of the 20 studies with qualitative designs, 19 were cross-sectional surveys. Sixteen studies used interviews to generate data, one study used the focus group method, and three collected data in interviews and focus groups. All three mixed-methods studies had a cross-sectional design and used both questionnaires and open-ended questions. Thirty-five of the 51 studies assessed self-reported wishes and needs, while 12 interviewed both residents and others, including relatives and family members, caregivers, and nursing assistants. In contrast, four studies surveyed only proxies. Caregivers, volunteers, public guardians, relatives, family members, and non-nursing staff were interviewed. Table 2 . Study Summary illustrates the summary of each study.

Study Summary.

Note: all values have been rounded to the nearest whole number for consistency; M stands for mean; SD stands for standard deviation.

3.2. Wishes and Needs

As a first step, we present the results of 41 studies on wishes and needs of NH residents, excluding those that used the CANE questionnaire. Subsequently, we present the results of the remaining ten studies that collected data on wishes and needs with the CANE instrument. This separation seemed reasonable, as the CANE questionnaire is the only instrument that explicitly distinguishes between met and unmet needs. Therefore, the separate presentation and summary of the CANE studies provide a comprehensive overview of the results collected with this questionnaire. The wishes and needs found in the 41 studies presented first could be mapped to 12 themes. These are shown in detail in Table 3 .

Explicit description of the themes.

3.2.1. Activities, Leisure, and Daily Routine

The need to make the day active and momentous has been addressed in several studies [ 27 , 28 , 38 , 46 , 49 , 58 , 60 ]. Accordingly, wishes for meaningful, person-specific, enjoyable, social, and recreational activities were mentioned [ 27 , 28 , 38 , 46 , 60 ]. Residents like to practice their hobbies and consider activities on special occasions and events as important [ 27 , 38 ]. Various pursuits and leisure activities that residents like to do could be classified under this theme: Reading, listening to music, having contact with animals, keeping up with the news, spending time outside, doing activities outside the NH, playing games, partying, tea-time, gardening, helping others, doing crafts, and spending time with others [ 27 , 38 , 46 , 49 , 58 ]. In addition to the need for specific activities, a general wish for a varied life with diverse offerings and activities was also mentioned [ 60 , 62 ], in which residents can experience self-sufficiency [ 49 ].

3.2.2. Autonomy, Independence, Choice, and Control

Moving into an NH can result in a loss of autonomy and independence. Over half of the 41 studies [ 20 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 49 , 50 , 52 , 57 , 58 , 60 , 62 , 63 ] demonstrate that it is essential for residents to do things for themselves, to have a say in decisions, and to maintain their autonomy to the greatest extent possible. In various studies, NH residents described an experienced dependence and a wish to gain more autonomy and independence: “The stroke nurse who was to do the swallowing test never came. She was to sign me off for swallowing so that I could eat bread… You see I am very determined to be as independent as I can be? I would love to be able to walk to the toilet on my own” [ 52 ]. Residents reported a wish to make decisions for themselves or to be involved in the decision-making process and that this is central to their well-being and quality of life [ 60 , 62 ]. The need to have a say relates to both day-to-day issues and far-reaching decisions. For example, residents wish to have control over daily concerns such as deciding when to get up and go to bed [ 28 , 38 , 39 ], what clothes to wear [ 38 , 58 ], what and when they eat [ 28 , 39 , 49 , 63 ], how they spend their day [ 49 ], who they share a room with [ 39 ], and whether they participate in social activities [ 49 ]. Residents also want to make their own decisions on issues related to hygiene and care routines, including bathing and showering type, how often to bathe or shower, and oral hygiene [ 35 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 63 ]. Control over medical matters is highly important to many residents. For instance, residents would like to have a choice regarding how often and which physician they consult [ 35 , 39 ]. Residents are concerned about their future and would like to make advance directives and living wills. According to one study [ 67 ], over one-third of residents have a written advance directive, i.e., either an advance directive, or a living will, or a combination of different documents. Residents who already have an advance directive most often want their son or daughter, or a close relative, to act as surrogate decision makers should their own decision-making capacity cease [ 26 , 50 ]. In decisions concerning care, residents wish to determine who has a say for themselves. Some residents wish to make all decisions on their own, but many would also like family members and relatives to have a say, while still others would like staff or the attending physician to make final decisions and hand over responsibility to them [ 22 , 25 , 31 , 32 , 35 , 62 ].

To maintain a sense of freedom and independence, residents feel the need to regularly leave the NH on their own and independently [ 39 , 57 , 63 ]: “I tell a member of staff when I leave the NH. This is not a problem. Sometimes I am not back before midnight. I have a key. So, I can come and go whenever I want. That’s great. Because the staff do not have to give a key to the residents” [ 57 ]. Some residents want to move out of the NH or want to have control over their own discharge. This is partly based on the need to live in familiar surroundings again, but also on the wish for more self-determination and freedom [ 33 , 39 , 62 ].

3.2.3. Death, Dying, and End-of-Life

People often move into a NH at a late stage in life, when the issues of dying and death become increasingly important. Residents have different ideas about the end of their lives and dying in the home. NH residents wish not to become bedridden and in need of care in the last phase of life. Furthermore, they wish that their health condition does not deteriorate further allowing for a degree of mobility and activity. Despite impending death, residents want to continue to make plans and be content [ 40 , 41 ]. Contact with family members, friends, relatives, and other confidants, such as nursing staff, or the attending physician, plays an essential role in this phase of life [ 40 , 66 ]. The results show that residents are concerned about discussing the topics of dying and death with familiar people. Residents want to prepare for death and plan for the process of dying and the time after [ 57 ]. In addition to a general need to talk about the approaching death, residents are particularly concerned about symptom management, emotional, psychological, and spiritual support, possible counseling services, and funeral issues [ 27 ]. One study [ 32 ] found that there is often a lack of opportunities to discuss one’s values and needs regarding end-of-life treatment and care with the nursing staff. Resident reactions to such staff discussions vary greatly from unnecessary to a very strong need. Wishes for pain management and more personal and time-intensive care include maintaining personal hygiene and the requirement of additional medical care in the last phase of life [ 40 , 56 ]. There are also clear wishes and needs on the part of NH residents regarding the dying process. In this context, several studies shed light on the context in which people want to die, such as the place of dying, the condition in which they want to die, and the people they would like to have by their side when dying [ 26 , 41 , 50 , 66 , 67 ]. In most cases, residents would like to die in the NH and not be transferred to another facility, such as a hospital. [ 26 , 41 , 50 , 66 , 67 ]. However, needs for passing away at home, in hospice, or in a hospital are also cited [ 66 , 67 ]. Most residents in one study [ 66 ] reported wanting to pass away in their sleep (31%). Fewer residents would like to be unconscious or comatose during dying (7%) and a small percentage would like to experience the dying process while conscious (3%). The other residents were not clear at the time of the survey about the condition in which they would like to die or did not make any statement for other reasons.

The question of end-of-life care also seems to be essential for residents. For example, most residents wish to die in the presence of familiar people, such as relatives, friends, nursing staff, or hospice companions. “That I can cling somewhere,… to any hands…” [ 41 ]. Others would rather be alone when the time comes [ 22 , 41 ]. When dealing with dying people, physical closeness, human warmth, support, and respectful, open, and honest communication are of great importance [ 41 , 66 ]. Medical and nursing factors are also central. Residents do not want to suffer pain and thirst during the dying process and want to be able to breathe comfortably [ 22 , 40 , 41 , 56 , 66 ]. Many residents do not want to receive life-sustaining measures, including artificial nutrition, resuscitation, surgery, heart–lung machine, ventilator, or dialysis, during the dying phase [ 22 , 40 , 41 , 56 , 66 ]. However, others want to receive life-sustaining treatment in the event of a life-threatening condition [ 50 ]. Residents consider a natural and quick death, which they see as a release, important [ 22 , 49 ].

Spiritual factors also play an essential role when residents face death in a NH. Residents want to die quietly and peacefully, which means that they do not want to be a burden on anyone and want to die without much fuss. They wish for forgiveness and reconciliation, for their mistakes not to be of great relevance in retrospect, and for their loved ones to think back on them positively after their passing [ 41 ]. During the dying process, residents feel the need to maintain their dignity and self-respect and to leave the world laughing [ 66 ].

The wish to die or to actively end life has also been cited in studies [ 33 , 57 , 66 ]. Three of 18 residents interviewed in the Goodman et al. study [ 33 ] want their life to end. Van der Steen et al. [ 66 ] found that residents wish to have ways to end life if they feel it is necessary.

3.2.4. Economics

Four of the 41 studies [ 24 , 27 , 60 , 62 ] captured residents’ financial wishes and needs. All four studies found a desire for more money or financial support and financial security. Chuang et al. [ 27 ] also found that residents feel a need to be able to pay the monthly NH fee. If this cannot be accomplished, residents would be discharged or transferred to another NH with lower standards, which they try to avoid.

3.2.5. Environment, Structural Conditions, Meals, and Food

Studies reported facility-related needs and needs at the structural level, for example, concerning the room occupied [ 19 , 20 , 36 , 38 , 46 , 47 , 60 , 62 ]. Residents wish for a comfortable bed [ 19 ], larger [ 62 ] and temperature-controlled rooms [ 36 ], and the ability to personally furnish the rooms with their own furniture, objects, photos, a television, and a radio [ 46 , 60 ]. Further, needs were expressed for housing facilities that are designed for the elderly and disabled such as the presence of elevators [ 62 ]. Clean housing and sanitary facilities are also important to residents. Regarding these, the wish for improvement was mentioned [ 20 , 62 ]. It is also essential that residents can take care of their own belongings and have a way to lock and store smaller items safely [ 19 , 36 , 38 ]. Other needs related to facility structure include a wish to separate residents with dementia from those without dementia and a wish for more flexible routines. For example, residents would like more flexibility in the timing of taking pills [ 62 ]. Culinary care in the NH also plays an essential role for residents. According to Sonntag et al. [ 62 ], residents feel the need for better food that is age-appropriate and not so monotonous. In addition, residents want to decide what food they get, how much of it, and whether they eat according to a recommended diet. Some wish for more traditional food to be offered and to take meals at their leisure, without time stress, at set times of the day, and with patient and respectful assistance if necessary [ 47 ]. Housen et al. [ 38 ] reported that it is important for residents to have snacks available at their convenience in the NH.

3.2.6. Health Condition

An inability of older people living alone with deteriorating health and physical condition often requires a transition to NH. Thus, the issue of health is of high importance for these NH residents. Most common among this theme was the need to maintain and improve health or to prevent a decline in health [ 33 , 49 , 57 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. In this context, maintaining both cognitive and physical health status is of high importance. The abilities are seen as a prerequisite for enjoying the last years in the NH: “The few years I have left to live, I want to enjoy them. I can still walk, more or less, well around what you can call walking. You don’t need to put me in a chair yet, a wheelchair or one of them frames. Yeah, I do and wash myself and everything” [ 60 ]. As the worst imaginable scenario, residents describe their condition as a nursing case: “I have no expectations anymore. The principal thing is not to become a nursing case. I do not want to become an invalid like some of the other residents. I do not want to lose my mind. In this case, I would rather die” [ 57 ]. According to Schmidt et al. [ 61 ], residents wish to maintain their physical and sensory awareness.

Additionally, full and honest information about one’s health status is also noted to be essential. While three studies [ 20 , 26 , 60 ] reported that residents want to be fully informed about health status and, if applicable, fatal diagnoses, Gjerberg et al. [ 32 ] found that a small number of residents were unsure whether they might want to receive information of a severe nature or indicated that they did not want to receive information. This is due to fear of harmful consequences, “…that will just leave me thinking. And I would rather not”.

Wishes for mobility or physical activity [ 57 , 60 , 61 ], for physical comfort [ 63 ], and for restful sleep and sleep comfort [ 58 , 60 , 61 ] were also mentioned under the topic of health condition.

3.2.7. Medication, Care, Treatment, and Hygiene

Thirteen of the 41 studies [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 27 , 30 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 42 , 46 , 49 , 58 , 62 ] addressed needs related to the behaviors or characteristics of nursing staff or care received. For example, residents want to receive care that is good [ 37 , 58 ], humane [ 62 ], continuous [ 37 , 42 ], competent, skilled [ 27 , 62 ], affectionate [ 62 ], encouraging [ 42 ], and professional [ 19 ]. According to Bangerter et al. [ 19 ], professional care in this regard can be defined as friendly, kind, courteous, emphatic, respectful, and characterized by symmetrical communication. Further, residents want to be perceived as individuals, treated personally and with dignity, and taken seriously [ 30 , 37 , 62 ]. This includes addressing residents personally by name [ 19 ]. They wish staff would reliably take care of them and be concerned about them [ 18 , 27 , 33 , 35 ]. Residents feel the need to trust the nursing staff [ 20 ] and have a good relationship with them [ 33 ]. Sensitivity and motivation on the part of caregivers are necessary to form a trusting relationship possible according to residents [ 42 ]. This does not always seem to be guaranteed: “Not too many of them help too much when we’re not well-they don’t have feelings… They are tired-they have to lift me and I’m heavy. If they have a bad day or bad night, they lose the ability to be sensitive to our condition. Sometimes I feel that they take their frustrations out on us. They lack a little sensitivity” [ 42 ]. Residents wish they were not treated as if they were a nuisance, a problem case, or a child [ 46 , 49 ].

In addition to needs primarily related to nursing staff, residents also reported wishes and needs related to medical care and hygiene. According to different studies [ 42 , 58 , 61 ] personal hygiene is important to residents. This includes bathing and washing facilities [ 58 ], oral hygiene, and regular changing of linens [ 42 ]. In one qualitative study with 10 women and 10 men, some women reported a gender-specific need for personal care to be performed by a caregiver who is a woman herself [ 37 ]. High-quality medical care includes the use of proper equipment during treatments [ 20 ], good skin and wound treatment, expert pain management to prevent discomfort due to physical illness [ 61 ], and monitoring for adverse drug reactions [ 46 ]. Referring to the study by Michelson et al. [ 45 ], residents refuse aggressive medical treatment unless the intervention alleviates pain or results in greater patient comfort or safety. Nakrem et al. [ 49 ] and Sonntag et al. [ 62 ] found that residents hope to receive more active care in the NH, more therapeutic interventions, more physical therapy, and regular fall prevention by NH staff. To provide more quality of life in the NH, residents wish for more help and support with daily living activities [ 27 , 62 ]. Frustration is reported because this support is not provided by staff without being asked [ 42 ]. Residents reported care needs for eating and drinking, excreting, constipation, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, chronic illnesses (including asthma, arthritis, hypertension), and visual impairment [ 23 , 61 ]: “The constipation has given me piles in that my whole body is affected” [ 23 ].

In the study by Levy-Storms et al. [ 42 ], excessive cross-boundary support from nursing staff is sometimes reported: “Let me eat (feed myself) with a spoon, like normal people”. This is countered by the reports of residents who experience a lack of individualized and skilled care and attention from NH staff. This is seen as a problem of limited staff capacity, which is why the wish for more staff was mentioned to make the above-mentioned needs and wishes feasible [ 62 ].

3.2.8. Peer Relationship, Company, and Social Contact

Contact with other people is a central need for many NH residents. While a good and trusting relationship with the nursing staff has already been presented as the basis for humane and personal care, residents name social contacts and friendships as significant for a satisfying life in the NH. Residents described needs for sociability and conversation in their lives [ 30 , 62 ], for human connection [ 52 ], for belonging [ 30 ], for a good and personal atmosphere in the home [ 60 ], for harmony [ 23 ], and for meaningful relationships [ 55 ].

Relationships with other NH residents are highly relevant, as these play a significant role in determining the daily environment. Residents actively choose their contacts in the NH, talking about their experiences in the home, their past lives, and their families. They spend time together and do things together: “I am in touch with Anna. She lives down the corridor. She is lucid, and we can talk. She comes to visit me, and then we talk… and if she gets some sweets, she comes to me [to share] and if I get something she appreciates from my family, then I share it with her” [ 21 ]. Residents reported a wish for all residents to live better together [ 62 ] and a desire for personal and social relationships with other residents [ 21 , 27 , 28 , 49 , 60 ].

In addition to the need for in-home relationships with peer residents, the wish for good relationships with family members, relatives, and friends outside the home was also frequently mentioned. For example, residents would like to maintain family and friendship ties [ 21 , 27 , 28 , 52 , 60 , 63 ] and spend more time with and are regularly visited by their loved ones [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 30 , 35 , 62 ].

Residents also wish to maintain contact with their former social environment and the community they lived in before moving. Residents do not want to lose connection to their former lives and the world outside the NH [ 28 , 49 , 52 , 63 ]: “I like getting out to the town, you know. I just like to see if there is any building going on or what’s happening in the town” [ 52 ]. Residents indicate they want to maintain their past relationships and ties because they are identity-building [ 52 ]. Ways to maintain a connection to the outside world include: watching television, listening to the radio, reading the newspaper, or sitting at the front door to watch people come and go [ 63 ].

3.2.9. Privacy

As important as human contact is, a certain degree of privacy is likewise important. This was shown by seven studies [ 19 , 20 , 27 , 28 , 33 , 38 , 60 ]. Residents desire privacy when using the restroom and performing personal hygiene [ 19 , 60 ]. The wish for privacy further includes the need for a private space [ 60 ], which residents understand to mean, for example, occupying a single room [ 28 ], but also being able to receive visits or make telephone calls in a private setting [ 38 ].

Quietness in the NH is also crucial to residents’ privacy. They wish to rest undisturbed [ 33 ] and that they are not disturbed by loud noises [ 60 ].

Residents who inevitably interact with others due to the institutional setting want to spend time alone [ 60 ] and consider it important for social and psychological privacy that nursing staff knocks upon entering the room [ 28 ]. Cooney et al. [ 28 ] found that residents of large facilities particularly complained about a lack of privacy. In some cases, beds are separated only by curtains, which ensures a very low level of quiet and privacy: “You only have a curtain separating you” [ 28 ].

3.2.10. Psychological and Emotional Aspects, Security, and Safety

Many of the wishes and needs of residents are also in the psychological, emotional, and safety domains. Inner-personal and psycho-emotional needs, for example, were named in the study by O’Neill et al. [ 52 ]. Residents wish to have a positive attitude and maintain their own identity, self-efficacy, resilience, and coping strategies. They would like to take each day as it comes and not worry too much about tomorrow. According to Franklin et al. [ 30 ] and Schmidt et al. [ 61 ], residents want to experience a daily routine, to be able to enjoy the little things in everyday life, and to find a sense of meaning in the NH’s daily routine to experience themselves as part of the environment. It seems essential for residents to have a sense of belonging, to feel understood, and to have a sense of community [ 60 ]. Other studies report similar findings [ 28 , 61 , 63 ]: residents want to be themselves, not lose a sense of self, and be recognized as independent individuals. To ensure this, residents are concerned about their appearance among others. One qualitative study showed that some women want to take care of their appearance. They state that this has a positive effect on their self-expression and self-esteem [ 28 ].

Further, having options to do what they want when they are miserable is essential [ 18 , 36 ]. Fundamental to residents is that they feel needed, valued, and welcomed [ 27 ]. Schmidt et al. [ 61 ] also found that expressing emotions, expressing one’s will, being talked to and touched, as well as touching others are important for residents’ emotional and psychological well-being. NH residents wish for social and emotional support in the home [ 46 ] and psychological support for depression, confidence loss, memory loss, anxiety, anger, and irritability [ 23 ].

A sense of security is also important to residents. They wish to be safe and secure in the NH [ 49 , 60 , 61 ]. This includes knowing that the home has safety and security measures installed and that residents always have quick access to emergency services [ 20 , 49 ]. Being protected from self-harm and from disturbance by other residents is also part of living safely in an NH [ 46 ].

3.2.11. Religion and Spirituality

Religiosity and spirituality play an important role for many residents. For example, they wish to participate in religious ceremonies [ 27 , 38 , 43 , 58 , 61 ]. They want to express themselves religiously in their lives, follow cultural customs, and feel spiritually connected to others [ 27 , 38 , 61 , 63 ]: “I can’t go to the Sunday ceremony, but I read the Bible by myself… You will feel consoled after you read it” [ 27 ]. Specific activities that residents undertake to meet their religious and spiritual needs are cited by Man-Ging et al. [ 43 ]: praying for themselves, reflecting on past lives, turning to a higher presence, and plunging into the beauty of nature.

3.2.12. Sexuality

One study [ 48 ] addressed the sexual needs of NH residents. More than half (51%) of the residents surveyed reported a sexual tension, including more men (65%) than women (41%). In addition, residents reported the following as their most important sexual needs: need for conversation, need for respect, need for tenderness, need for support in any situation, and need for giving and receiving emotional support, by which residents primarily mean empathy and understanding.

3.2.13. CANE Studies

The ten studies that used the CANE questionnaire for data collection are presented separately. The CANE questionnaire covers 25 areas of daily life in the NH to assess older people’s physical, psychological, social, and environmental needs. A distinction is made between met and unmet needs. Table 4 shows the outcomes of CANE studies and gives an overview of the five most frequently mentioned needs in each of these ten studies. Eight studies reported both unmet and met needs [ 29 , 34 , 44 , 51 , 54 , 59 , 64 , 68 ]. One study reported only unmet needs [ 53 ], and the study by van der Ploeg et al. [ 65 ] reported the sum of met and unmet needs differentiated between residents with dementia, residents without dementia, and relatives. Looking at the results without including the study by van der Ploeg et al. [ 65 ], the five most frequently mentioned met needs are in the areas of food, household skills, physical health, accommodation, and self-care. In comparison, the five most frequently unmet needs are in the areas of daytime activities, psychological distress, company, eyesight/hearing, and memory. Some of the five most frequently identified needs that residents have according to CANE studies were also highlighted by the analysis of the 41 other studies. These include the following needs in the area of unmet needs: daytime activities, psychological distress, and company. The met needs, which have also been addressed by the other studies, are as follows: food, physical health, and accommodation. Additional needs identified through the CANE studies that have not been mentioned in the previous analysis are household skills and self-care in the area of met needs and memory and eyesight/hearing related to unmet needs.

Outcomes CANE studies.

4. Discussion

The objective of this scoping review was to identify the wishes and needs of NH residents. The results show numerous needs that were mapped to 12 themes. In 35 studies, residents were interviewed; in 12 studies, residents and proxies were interviewed; and only proxies were interviewed in four studies. This shows that residents can be aware of perceived needs and wishes and can communicate them. This is valid not only for residents without cognitive impairment [ 69 ], but also for residents with dementia [ 11 ]. Studies show that third-party assessments of needs sometimes differ from what NH residents report [ 20 , 35 , 44 , 46 , 54 , 65 ]. This finding is especially important for residents with dementia, as needs elicitation for these individuals is often only collected through a proxy survey [ 11 ]. It is essential to directly survey NH residents, including residents with dementia, about their wishes and needs. Interviewing proxies can provide additional and helpful information, but is not a substitute for speaking directly with the affected resident.

The scoping review results further indicate that wishes and needs on specific topics differ between individual residents. For example, some would like to receive life-sustaining measures, while others reject them. This high degree of individuality and complexity must be considered in assessing needs. The wishes and needs should be recorded with the individual residents in private conversations, reflected on repeatedly, and the way they are dealt with should be adjusted if necessary. This requires time, expertise, and willingness. Often, there is a lack of human resources to ensure this task is completed. Complaints about a shortage of skilled workers and high workloads in NHs are frequent. [ 70 , 71 ]. These circumstances can lead to less quality in care and can make it difficult to have an individualized approach to residents [ 72 ]. Assessment tools, such as the PELI-NH or CANE questionnaire, can be helpful in conducting a comprehensive needs assessment. Such tools can provide clues to existing needs and wishes and present an overview. The CANE questionnaire, for example, does not address all the areas in which NH residents experience needs. Topics that are relevant for residents according to the present study, such as death/dying, autonomy, interaction of nursing staff with residents, and religion/spirituality, are not surveyed by this instrument. When caregivers or other persons refer to the CANE questionnaire in order to assess needs, they should be aware of this. Accordingly, in-depth and recurring interviews with residents are indispensable to consider the high complexity and individuality of wishes and needs. Only in this way can the results be validated and unmet needs can be discovered.

Themes of high relevance seem to be the following, as they were mentioned frequently and in multiple studies: “autonomy, independence, choice, and control”, “death, dying, and end-of-life”, and “medication, care, treatment, and hygiene”. Notably, needs cannot be categorized in a blanket way in which some needs are of higher importance than others. For example, needs in the nursing area may weigh the heaviest for some residents, while others consider the needs for autonomy and self-determination to be most important.

Older adults are aware of their wishes and needs, but in many cases they do not communicate them [ 73 ]. Sometimes, when asked about their wishes and needs, residents report that they do not wish for anything because nothing would change anyway. The reason for this seems to be an experienced lack of respect for their wishes. For residents who have the feeling that their personal and subjective wishes and needs are not heard and that addressing them does not lead to any change, communicating their needs does not make sense [ 62 , 69 ]. As another reason for non-communication, older adults in home care state that they do not want to be a burden to anyone, and they do not want to complain about the age-related ailments that are common for them [ 73 ]. In these situations, caregivers should treat residents with appreciation and respect. It is important to schedule sufficient time to talk about wishes and needs. It is also important to take residents seriously and show them that expressing their wishes and needs will lead to positive changes in their lives by addressing them. The patronizing communication that often occurs on the part of NH staff may also contribute to NH residents not always openly communicating their wishes and needs, as satisfaction with such interactions can be low [ 74 ]. Further, the use of elderspeak due to stereotypical expectations of NH residents’ communication skills can lead to residents not feeling understood or respected and, as a result, they tend to be quiet and accept things without argument [ 75 , 76 ]. As a result, non-communicated needs go unrecognized and, accordingly, unmet. Communication training or person-centered interventions for caregivers could contribute to improved caregiver–patient communication, which could lead to more openness on the part of the residents and, consequently, fewer unmet residents’ needs [ 77 , 78 ].

Shared decision making was a frequently mentioned need. However, sometimes less is more. The study by Reed et al. [ 79 ] shows that older people prefer to have fewer options from which to choose than younger people. This suggests that some NH residents may be overwhelmed by too many options. NH staff should individually ask residents whether they prefer to choose from reduced options in some areas of their lives.

The present study has some limitations. First, it must be said that the concepts of “wishes” and “needs” are very complex, and there is no common definition [ 80 ]. This can lead to the fact that all researchers involved understand something different by the concept under investigation. A definition was created and applied throughout to prevent this from happening and to ensure consistent study inclusion, data extraction, and analysis. Further, the 51 included studies are diverse in research design, study population, and objectives. For example, there are studies that surveyed residents as well as studies that surveyed proxies. Some studies focused on residents with dementia, while others focused on residents without cognitive impairment, or on unbefriended residents. The research focus was not primarily on wishes and needs in all studies. Constructs such as quality of life, dignity, or thriving were sometimes of substantial research interest. However, relevant wishes and needs were mentioned in the survey on these constructs, which were analyzed here. In the analysis of the quantitative studies, only the five most frequently mentioned wishes and needs were recorded in each case. The disadvantage here is that some wishes and needs were not recorded as a result. As qualitative studies do not include frequencies and therefore no ranking, all needs and wishes were extracted in these, which can lead to an overweighting of the qualitatively surveyed wishes and needs. Further, only studies in English and German were included. This can be explained by the language skills of the researchers but presents the possibility that relevant studies were not included. Consequently, the results only represent an overview of possible wishes and needs as stated by residents or their proxies. In no way do the results claim to be exhaustive of all wishes and needs of NH residents.

Among this study’s strengths is a very extensive literature search of 12 databases that was conducted. Additionally, the evidence examined is extensive, with 51 studies, as demonstrated by the high richness of results.

5. Conclusions

Twelve topics were identified to which the wishes and needs of NH residents can be assigned. This reflects the high complexity and diversity of the needs and wishes of the heterogeneous group of NH residents.

For many NH residents, the NH represents the last phase of life before death. Residents should live a contented and fulfilling life in the home. Essential to achieving satisfaction is the fulfillment of individual wishes and needs. A comprehensive needs assessment on resident wishes and needs should take place in NHs. Speaking directly with the residents is essential to success.

The results of this study provide an evidence-based framework that can serve as a basis for holistic and person-centered care in NHs.

Funding Statement

This research received no external funding.

Author Contributions

R.S. contributed to the design, evidence search, data extraction, data analysis, and drafted the manuscript. J.L.O. contributed to the design, evidence search, data extraction, data analysis, and revised the manuscript. M.K. contributed to the design, evidence search, data extraction, data analysis, and revised the manuscript. S.N. initiated the study, contributed to the design, and revised the manuscript. A.T. initiated the study, contributed to the design, and revised the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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