Dissatisfaction: Iranian Older People's Experiences from Living in Aged Care Home

Satisfaction with life in the aged care home is crucial because living in the aged care home affects all aspects of the resident’s life. Identifying the factors affecting the satisfaction of the older people can be the basis for strategic planning to facilitate their life in the aged care home. So, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explain the factors affecting the resident's satisfaction with life in the aged care home.
This qualitative content analysis study was conducted in eight aged care home located in two provinces in Iran from Jan. 2015 to May 2017. The study participants included 17 people living in aged care homes and three formal caregivers who were selected using purposive sampling and were interviewed through the semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed through conventional content analysis by using the MAXQDA software.
Results showed that residents are not satisfied with living in the aged care home. Moreover, 8 subcategories were identified as effective factors in resident's satisfaction: Communication deprivation, monotone life, lack of attention to individual needs, lack of independence, care needs, nutritional problems, lack of amenities, and financial concerns. These subcategories were classified into two main categories of human factors and environmental factors.
The dissatisfaction experienced by Iranian older people in aged care home reflects the need for a review of Iranian aged care services. Designing family-based care, paying attention to the needs of the elderly, developing psychological counseling, and improving physical and staff structures can be helpful in this regard.