Expectations of Institutionalized Elderly From Their Children

This qualitative study described the expectations of the elderly parents living in the nursing home from their children.
Methods & Materials: An ethnography method was utilized for selecting 30 residents of an elderly nursing home in Malayer city via a criterion-based sampling technique. The research data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis.
The data analysis led to the identification of four basic expectations, including meeting the physical healthcare needs of the elderly parents, providing social support and respecting the dignity and status of the elderly parents, providing emotional support and protecting the privacy of the elderly parents, and offering financial support and the provision of the basic necessities of life. Taken together, these results supported the vital role of the family in fulfilling the elderly’s expectations and concerns and consequently improving their physical and psychological quality of life.
According to the results of this study, the elderly’s family and especially their children can provide appropriate opportunities and conditions to assure them of complete support while their independence and abilities are respected.