Nursing Home Residents,Family Members,and Staff Members Views About a Good Death and Preferred Place of Death for a Nursing Home Resident

Abstract

Studies indicate that many residents prefer to die peacefully in the nursing home without pain and suffering. This qualitative study explored residents’, family, and staff members’ perspectives regarding the meaning of a good death and the preferred place of death for a resident. Data analysis of the in-person interviews in a South Florida nursing home included condensation, pattern coding, and thematic interpretation across and within the three participant groups. The two themes that emerged are die in the nursing home or the hospital and “good death” or no such thing as a “good death.” Participants described a good death as quick, painless, without suffering, quiet, peaceful, and dying in your sleep. Seven of the 15 residents chose the nursing home as their preferred place of death, although staff thought that residents would want familiar surroundings. Continued research and provider conversations with residents/families are necessary to promote good deaths for residents.