Care Process in Iranian Nursing Homes: A Grounded Theory Study

AbstractIntroduction: The need and use of long-term care services for older people has increased withtheir rising population and there is little information about the state of serving in nursing homes.This study aimed to identify the caring process in Iranian nursing homes.Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in three Iranian nursing homes using groundedtheory approach. The participants included 28 individuals (14 older people and 14 caregivers).The data were collected using unstructured interviews up to data saturation, and analyzed byconstant comparative method.Results: Fragmented care emerged as the core variable. The main factor for developing thecore variable was ‘experience-based caring’. Other factors included ‘inappropriate structure forcare’ as contextual factors in the nursing homes environment and ‘keeping instead of caring’,‘dismal life’, and ‘up and down of the path’ as strategies and consequences.Conclusions: The most common type of care was the routine and unplanned one with focusingon physical aspects. To improve a delivery care system for older people in nursing homes,proposing a care plan with focus on an integrated model of care in nursing homes, provision ofinstructions for treatment, as well as supervision and training caregivers to provide better careare necessary.