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ABSTRACT
Findings from this qualitative study indicate that family members of nursing home residents hold themselves responsible for overseeing the care of their loved one, representing the resident's perspective and history, and keeping the family connections. These role expectations can be assets to nursing homes. Nursing and social work staff are called on to be leaders among all staff to maximize constructive family involvement and minimize the stress families may experience if they are not able to fulfill their role expectations.
From cradle to grave, family members provide the majority of health care to individuals who require it. Even in older adulthood, family members provide the bulk of care to older adults with physical and mental health needs (Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project, 2003; Travis & Piercy, 2002). Many frail older adults are able to continue living in the community with the help of their family, friends, and community supports (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, 2004). However, in some cases, older adults' care needs exceed the resources of the family and the community. Individuals and families turn to nursing homes for help. In most cases, families continue their concern and care for their loved one after the person is admitted (Brody, 1974; Dempsey, 1993). This study reports family members' sense of their responsibilities toward their loved one living in a nursing home.
BACKGROUND
It goes without saying that most of the people who live in U.S. nursing homes are in frail health. What is less well understood is that although the percentage of the older adult population living in nursing homes on any given day has declined during the past 15 years, so has the functional status of nursing home residents. In other words, as a group, the people living in nursing homes today are more functionally impaired than their earlier counterparts (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS], 2005). The 1.4 million nursing home residents are dependent in mobility (80%), in eating (47%), and are incontinent (66%), or all three (37%) (NCHS, 2005). In addition, the majority of nursing home residents have cognitive impairment. Although most nursing home residents are older than age 80, it is important to remember that not all are. In the 2000 census, 162,700 nursing home residents were...