Do long-term care facilities feel like home? Views from older adults with disabilities

The sense of home for older adults with disabilities in long-term care facilities is a multifaceted phenomenon and a complex concept that can be challenging to grasp. This sense of home is crucial for helping this population maintain autonomy, security, and well-being. As older adults with disabilities often find themselves spending extended periods in long-term care due to physical limitations, understanding their perception of home in such settings can aid in creating appropriate, home-like environments in which they can experience higher levels of satisfaction, comfort and a sense of belonging. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the lived experience of a sense of home among older adults with disabilities residing in long-term care facilities, and to understand the factors that shape this experience. We employed the descriptive phenomenology method to purposefully select 16 older adults with disabilities from a long-term care facility in East China. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and subsequently analyzed using Colaizzi’s analysis method. The analysis of the study identified five themes: (a)self-identity, (b)gaining a sense of belonging, (c) a warm atmosphere, (d) a satisfying state of being, and (e) feeling secure. This study demonstrates that a sense of home can be achieved in long-term care facilities for older adults with disabilities through the provision of systematic environmental and humanistic support. The findings reveal that a sense of home is collectively fostered through multiple dimensions, including quality caregiving, tailored physical environments, meaningful social interactions, and attention to individual needs.