Miami University

Study finds knowing residents' pasts improves nursing home care

03/11/2010

The Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University has released a report indicating that increased staff knowledge of nursing home residents’ pasts can lead to improved resident/staff relations and job satisfaction.

The research is based on staff members who observed brief biographies and two-page “slice-of-life” oral histories taken from 13 residents in a nursing facility of a southwestern Ohio continuing care retirement community.

The residents’ biographies and oral histories were put into written form and placed outside of resident rooms for staff to read at their leisure.

Key findings of the research include:

• 18 of 28 nurses and nurse aides stated that knowing more about the residents’ pasts through the stories helped make their jobs more satisfying and/or helped them to perform their jobs better.
  
• 14 of 28 nurses and nurse aides indicated that knowing more about the residents’ pasts through the stories served to improve their perceptions of and/or relations with residents and more closely connect them to those they care for.
  
• All five key informants from the administrative staff perceived a positive effect on staff and the participating residents’ self-esteem and well-being.