In my thesis, I presented the experience of elderly people when moving to a nursing home. I was interested in the reasons for their decision to move, the emotions that accompanied them, the most difficult part of the move, and how they adjusted to their new life within the home. I also wanted to hear about their experiences with non-institutional forms of help, their experiences with family members as caregivers, and their perspective on the role of social workers in the nursing home. In addition to the elderly residents, I also interviewed family members who have experience with placing someone in a nursing home. I was interested in their views on nursing homes, their experiences as caregivers, and their feelings about placing an elderly person in a home. Finally, I wanted to hear from a social worker employed in a nursing home. I wanted her to describe her work, her experiences with new residents, her experiences working with families, and finally, the ways in which they facilitate the transition of new residents into the nursing home. I found that for many people, the transition to a nursing home is a traumatic experience, especially in cases where they were forced to make this decision very quickly. Despite the initial difficulties, residents adapt to life within the home with the help of good relationships with staff and regular contact with family members. The residents are satisfied with their lives within the home.
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