This study examined the roles of primary caregivers, primary caregivers' informal networks,
and health professionals in the residential-care-home (RCH) entry process. Results showed that
primary caregivers were the principal source of decisions to move elders from their homes into
RCHs. However, logistic regression analyses indicated that elders who were hospitalized prior
to RCH entry were more likely to have a health professional label them as out-of-place in their
homes and refer them to a residential care home. Elders who had a friend as their primary
caregiver were also more likely to have a health professional refer them to an RCH than were
elders who had a close relative as a primary caregiver. The characteristics of primary caregivers'
informal networks did not influence the source of the RCH entry decision. Practice applications
are addressed
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