Objective: To describe the perception of familial relationships of older adults living in long term-establishments in Temuco, in 2016.
Methods: Qualitative phenomenological study. We conducted 10 in depth interviews with older adults living in different long-term establishments, using a theoretical sampling process. Thematic qualitative analysis was conducted using NVivo 11.
Results: Participants’ narratives reflect their wish to be taken care of at home or at a family member’s home, though they understand that this is not very feasible, because it would represent a physical, emotional and financial burden for their caregiver. Therefore, they accept that being institutionalized is a good option. Even though only a few participants shared feeling abandoned by their families, all of them agree that there is a generalized abandonment of the elderly, espe¬cially if he or she has dementia. Participants feel that the only thing they can do to improve this relationship is to avoid conflicts and maintain good communication with their family members. In all cases, family was an important factor in the institutionalization of the older adults.
Conclusions: The wellbeing of institutionalized older adults appears to be related to the support of family members and having a good relationship with them. Family support improves quality of life and favors the adaptation process to the institution. These results are important for the development of interventions that use a biopsychosocial perspective. It is suggested that in¬tervention that provide more support to families, so they are able to care for older adults without disrupting family dynamics and quality of life, should be developed and evaluated.
Gempp, L., & Benadof, D. (2018). Perception of Familial Support among Older Adults Living in Long-term Establishments. Revista Chilena De Salud Pública, 21(2), p. 142–149. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5281.2017.48911
