As they see it: A qualitative study of how older residents in nursing homes perceive their care needs

Meeting care needs of nursing home residents is a significant element in providing the best quality care. A literature review revealed that there is poor understanding of the care needs of older residents from their own viewpoints within a nursing home context. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the older nursing home residents’ care needs from their own perspectives. This was a qualitative study. In-depth interviews were conducted by a purposive sample of 18 nursing home residents with a mean age of 80.7 years in Taiwan. All data was transcribed and coded for emerging themes. A qualitative data analysis generated six themes including the body, economics, environment, mind, preparation for death, and social support, referred to subsequently as BEEMPS. These findings can provide nursing home managers with information on how to improve nursing home care protocols to accommodate residents’ expressed needs and also inform healthcare professionals about the care needs of older residents, thus fostering better care.