Needs and Needs Communication of Nursing Home Residents with Depressive Symptoms: A Qualitative Study

Roxana Schweighart, Malte Klemmt, Silke Neuderth and Andrea Teti
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Roxana Schweighart: Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany
Malte Klemmt: Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
Silke Neuderth: Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
Andrea Teti: Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Nursing home residents are affected by depressive symptoms more often than elders living at home. There is a correlation between unmet needs and depression in nursing home residents, while met needs positively correlate with greater satisfaction and well-being. The study aims to examine the needs of nursing home residents with depressive symptoms and the communication of those needs, as no previous study has explicitly addressed the needs of this group of people and the way they are communicated. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 residents of three nursing homes and analyzed them using content-structuring content analysis. The residents reported diverse needs, assigned to 12 categories. In addition, barriers such as health impairments prevented the fulfillment of needs. As to the communication of needs, various interlocutors, facilitators, and barriers were identified. The findings reveal that residents can express their needs and are more likely to do so if the interlocutors are patient and take them seriously. However, lack of confidants, missing or non-functioning communication tools, impatience and perceived lack of understanding on the part of caregivers, and residents’ insecurities limit communication of needs.

Keywords: depression; long-term care; person-centered care; needs assessment; needs fulfillment; healthy aging; well-being; quality of life; older adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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