Factors leading to black elderly persons' decisions to seek institutional care in a home in the Eastern Cape

• Published in: Curationis (Pretoria) Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 47 - 50
• Main Author: Mavundla, T R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa 01-09-1996
• Subjects: African Americans - psychology; African Continental Ancestry Group; Aged - psychology; Aged, 80 and over; Decision Making; Family - psychology; Female; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Institutionalization; Male; Nursing; Nursing Homes; Nursing Methodology Research; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology; Risk Factors; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires; South Africa
• ISSN: 0379-8577

The experience of leaving home by an elderly person and going into an institution for the elderly is viewed by many people as a stressful situation that needs support not only for the elderly but also for the family members that are left behind. A qualitative study was conducted at a home for the elderly in the Eastern Cape Province with the aim of exploring factors that result in a decision to seek institutional care. The study used in-depth individual semi-structured interviews as a method of data collection. The target population consisted of 200 elderly people in the institution. Twelve respondents were interviewed in this study. The interviews were recorded and later transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using Vankaam's method of content analysis. The results revealed four types of factors as: physical, psychological, psychosocial and social. It also became clear that elderly people's past experiences correlated significantly with their decision concerning institutionalization. The recommendations pointed to the utilization of institutions for the elderly as rehabilitation centres as opposed to nursing homes or old folk's homes. The implications for the role of both community health nurses and psychiatric nurses concerning screening and counselling of those elderly people who could still be returned to their homes were highlighted. Further research was recommended in the form of developing a model to base gerontological practice in this country with regards to institutionalization.