Moving our care home: A qualitative study of the views and experiences of residents, relatives and staff.
Kinda Ibrahim, Sophie Baron, Judith Lathlean and 3 others
PMID 35437921WHAT IT FOUND
Residents and families experienced the move to a larger, purpose-built home as losing their 'family-like' community and struggling with confusion, despite improved facilities.
Nurses should prioritise continuity of familiar staff and involve residents in room choices near friends to support adjustment.
Key findings
01Participants described the new, larger home as less homely and more confusing than the old, smaller care home, with some residents isolating themselves due to difficulty navigating the space.
02Continuity of care was compromised because new staff did not know residents well, and established staff felt unsupported by management changes and increased workloads.
03While residents had some choice in room decor, they often did not choose rooms near their friends, which disrupted social connections and contributed to feelings of loss.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was small, based on a single care home relocation, and had a high attrition rate between baseline and follow-up interviews (only 8 of 19 participants completed follow-up). All interviewed residents were female, and the study did not collect data on how long residents had lived in the old home, which likely influenced their attachment and experience of the move. Participants were recruited after the move had occurred, so the study could not capture pre-move expectations or the immediate impact of the transition process. The findings reflect the views of a specific group in one setting and may not be generalisable to other care home closures or relocations.
Declared interests
Two members of the research team were trustees of the care home's charitable foundation, although they were not involved in data collection or analysis. The study was ethically approved by the University of Southampton.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that moving residents to a new, larger, purpose-built home automatically improves their quality of life or wellbeing. This study shows that despite better facilities, the loss of community, confusion from the larger environment, and lack of continuity in care can lead to negative outcomes like social withdrawal and distress.