Quality of Care in a Nursing Home as Experienced by Patients with Dementia

BACKGROUND: Dementia care is one of the most rapidly growing areas in health care. Despite this, relatively little is known about the experiences of persons with dementia in relation to quality of care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe how persons with dementia in nursing homes experience the quality of care. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted in a nursing home in Norway. A total of 33 persons with dementia participated. RESULTS: Respondents’ mean age was 86.7 years. More than 80% reported their health as bad/neither good nor bad. Concerning their satisfaction with staying in the nursing home, two in ten were satisfied. Nearly half answered that they received or sometimes received good help and support when anxious. More than 50% reported that they only sometimes received or never received good help and support when they felt lonely. The majority perceived that the nurses came/or sometimes came when needed (79%) and that the nurses had time/sometimes had time to talk with them (73%). CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the voice of persons with dementia must be listened to, in order to increase the quality of care in nursing homes. The challenge concerning how living in nursing homes can be more satisfying must be addressed by leaders and nurses in nursing homes, as well as researchers. Special attention must be paid to anxiety, loneliness, and going outdoors.