"Now I Write Songs": Growth and Reciprocity After Long-Term Nursing Home Placement

Background And Objectives: Nursing home residents have a need for activities that are meaningful, yet mandated scheduled activities remain poorly characterized. In order to understand how scheduled activities provide meaning for nursing home residents, we conducted a study of daily life in a nursing home with a robust activities program.

Research Design And Methods: This 2-year, longitudinal ethnographic study embedded an ethnographer into the activities department of a 430-bed, not-for-profit, faith-based nursing home. Forty-three interviews and more than 250 hr of participant-observation were conducted, with a focus on creative arts and religious activities. Thirty-two residents and 15 activities staff were followed more than 12-23 months. Data were coded concurrently, and emerging themes challenged through purposive recruitment until thematic saturation was reached.

Results: Scheduled activities in the nursing home offered opportunities for learning and personal growth regardless of functional or cognitive disability. Three major themes emerged. Artistic development included new self-identification as a musician, painter, or sculptor through arts programming. Intellectual and spiritual growth involved the use of activities to support ongoing practice and study. Reciprocity occurred as residents used the arts to remain contributing members of their institutional society, reciprocating with the institution that housed them.

Discussion And Implications: Nursing home scheduled activities can facilitate the transformation of identity from resident or patient to the normalized social roles of artist, Torah scholar, and productive member of society.