essay for nursing homes

97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best nursing home topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy nursing home essay titles, 🔎 most interesting nursing home topics to write about, ❓ nursing home research questions.

• Issue of Falls at a Nursing Home: Professional Reflection The problem of patients’ falls in nursing homes is an urgent nursing issue, and my experience in one of these institutions in New Zealand is the object of evaluation.
• Quality Costs for Building a Dementia Nursing Home Firstly, there will be the inclusion of the appraisal costs which entails the inspection and measurement of activities when the operation is ongoing to determine their conformity to the required standards.
• Older Patients’ Transition From a Hospital to a Nursing Home The example of transition of care chosen for further exploration is concerned with the transition of care from the hospital to the nursing home setting for patients that came to receive healthcare for various conditions.
• The Rehabilitation Center and Nursing Home During the evaluation process, the nurse leader identifies the problems in the organization and determines the strong and weak points, resources, gaps, and other factors that determine how the project will develop.
• A Nitrogen Gas Accident at a Nursing Home The nursing home workers failed to recognize this error and did not check the gas before hooking the tanks to the system.
• Approach to Learning at Cloudview Nursing Home Since the approach adopted to learning determines an organization’s performance, it is essential to understand the motivations for learning and their influence on workplace education.
• Regulation of a Large For-Profit Nursing Home Chain To solve the problem of unlawful actions of the stakeholders in nursing homes, there is a need for the implementation of the practical management theory.
• “Implementation and Effects of MRC in a Nursing Home” by Henskens The research’s dependent variable is the outcome to be measured the treatment’s impact on the aforementioned patients’ ADL and QoL. However, the researchers did not provide a clear delineation of the above-mentioned variables in the […]
• Nursing Home Beds: Fundamental Uncertainty and Values If it is assumed that the admission will stay the same, the decision to dismiss a certain amount of employees will reduce fixed costs in both facilities.
• A Nursing Home Working Scenario Working in nursing homes has its opportunities and challenges; therefore, the paper will cover the multidisciplinary teams’ working scenario, their interaction and diversity, communication in client care, and support accorded to clients considering their family, […]
• Nursing Home Blueprint and Requirements The aim of the facility should be geared towards the promotion of the health of the old patients through the prevention and treatment of diseases and disabilities.
• Departmental Budget Preparation for Nursing Home However, while the total population in our area of operation is expected to decrease, the population of people who are above 65 years in the US is projected to rise.
• Northern Cochise Nursing Home: Federal and State Surveys Following the findings of the health inspection carried out by Arizona Department of Health Services, the management of the Northern Cochise Nursing home took immediate steps to correct the deficiencies.
• Redondo Nursing Home: Providing Above Average Care While the potential resident and family members are expected to disclose all information pertaining to medical conditions, the planner is required to provide a complete description of the home.
• Organization Strategic Plan for a 40 Bed Nursing Home Unit The core values are to ensure that a team of the highest quality and honesty in delivering services attends to all.
• Activities Coordinator and a Conflict of Interest Situation at Cooinda Nursing Home It is thereby imperative that the practitioner adhere to the guidelines set by the home in such regards because he needs to check how his values and emotions are at par with the organizations, and […]
• Satisfaction With a Transitional Nursing Home Project The abstract does mention the dependant variable of the study viz.satisfaction with the transitional program; it does not, however, mention and discusses the various dimensions of the dependant variable that were measured in order to […]
• Nursing Home Designs: Health and Wellness of Aging The Eden Alternative is a nursing home model of care that places decision-making power into the hands of its clients and their families.
• Future Care Nursing Home in Baltimore City In the United States, up to one-half of the citizens will spend at least a few years of their lives in a nursing home.
• Choosing an Adult Foster Home or a Nursing Home A nursing home is well known to health and social services professionals as the long-term care service for older adults that accounts for that vast majority of public funding.
• Blumberg’s Nursing Home: Staffing Crisis The situation under analysis is complicated due to the level of awareness and the necessity to take immediate steps and fill the unstaffed positions.
• Employee Compensation and Benefits. Senior Secretary at Capital Nursing Home Limited The proposal demonstrates that the value of the employee’s benefits augmented with the annual salary and provides the total compensation. The total compensation package for the position of Senior Secretary includes the base pay and […]
• Fernhill Nursing Home Run by Colten Care Limited Staff management for my team is my responsibility; and of course I am a nurse so my basic role is providing general nursing care to the residents and any other role that might be allocated […]
• Reduce Hospitalization of Nursing Home Residents Publicity of INTERACT as a program having the necessary infrastructure and leadership commitment in health care matters for the elderly is one promising way that can be used to overcome these issues.
• The Effects of Group Music Making on the Wellbeing of Nursing Home Residents
• Assessing French Nursing Home Efficiency
• Assessing Nursing Home Care Quality Through Bayesian Networks
• Can Family Caregiving Substitute for Nursing Home Care
• Cost (In)Efficiency and Institutional Pressures in Nursing Home Chains
• The Difference Between Nursing Homes and Retirement Homes
• Direct Care Workers’ Response to Dying and Death in the Nursing Home
• Does Paid Family Leave Reduce Nursing Home Use
• Economic Disability and Health Determinants of the Hazard of Nursing Home Entry
• Effective Human Resources Leadership for Nursing Home
• Elder Abuse Within Nursing Home Setting
• Elderly Falls Within the Nursing Home
• End-Of-Life Decision Making for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia
• Impact of Family Structure on the Risk of Nursing Home Admission
• Nursing Home Facility Versus a General Acute Care Hospital
• Improving Wound and Pressure Area Care in a Nursing Home
• Nursing Home Environment and Pet Therapy Programs
• The Effects of 1935’s Social Security Act on the Nursing Home Industry
• Nursing Home Care Versus Assisted Living Care
• Health Care Utilization Nursing Home Administration
• Nursing Home Staff Turnover and Better Practices
• Mental Disorders Among Non-Elderly Nursing Home Residents
• Forecasting Nursing Home Utilization of Elderly Americans
• Incorporating Quality Into Data Envelopment Analysis of Nursing Home Performance
• Interventions That Encourage High-Value Nursing Home Care
• Lateral Violence and Uncivil Behavior in a Nursing Home
• Medicaid and the Cost of Improving Access to Nursing Home Care
• Medicaid Reimbursement and the Quality of Nursing Home Care
• Who Makes the Decision to Go to a Nursing Home
• Understanding the Medical Aspect of a Nursing Home
• The Fate and Welfare of Nursing Home Residents
• The Social Security Act of Nursing Home Facilities
• Physical Restraint in Nursing Home Facilities
• Predicting Nursing Home Utilization Among the High-Risk Elderly
• How Many Nursing Home Residents Live With a Mental Illness
• Improving the Nursing Home: A Framework for Professional Nursing Practice
• Incapacitated vs. Incompetence: Employees in the Nursing Home Industry
• An Argument in Enhancing the Care Quality in a Nursing Home
• How to Prevent Accidents in Nursing Homes
• Positive and Negative Views of Nursing Homes
• What Are the Benefits of Living in a Nursing Home?
• Do People Live Longer at Home or in a Nursing Home?
• What Is the Main Purpose of a Nursing Home?
• Why Is Assisted Living Better Than a Nursing Home?
• Which Are the Most Important Problems of Nursing Home Residents?
• How Do You Know When Someone Is Ready for a Nursing Home?
• What Participation and Knowledge Are Associated with Nursing Home Admission Decisions Among the Working-Age Population?
• Is It Bad to Put Your Parents in a Nursing Home?
• What Is the Most Common Diagnosis in Nursing Homes?
• How Did the Social Security Act of 1935 Affect the Nursing Home Industry?
• Can a Doctor Put Someone in a Nursing Home?
• How Can You Improve the Quality of Life in a Nursing Home?
• What Are the Most Common Reasons Seniors Are Placed in a Nursing Home?
• Are Nursing Homes Better Than Care Homes?
• What Is the Difference Between a Nursing Home and a Senior Home?
• How Can the Risk of Violence in Nursing Homes Be Reduced?
• What Are the Perspectives and Expectations of Telemedicine Opportunities from Families of Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Home Caregivers?
• How Do You Deal with the Guilt of Putting Your Parents in a Nursing Home?
• What Percentage of Nursing Home Residents Are Depressed?
• Is a Nursing Home the Best Choice for the Elderly?
• What Are the Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social Benefits of Various Stimulating Activities for Nursing Home Residents?
• How to Deal With Collateral Violence and Indecent Behavior in a Nursing Home?
• What Are Nursing Home Residents’ Views on Dying and Death?
• How Often Should You Visit Your Mother in a Nursing Home?
• What Is the Difference Between a Residential Care Home and a Nursing Home?
• Should Elderly Parents Live in a Nursing Home or Not?
• What Is the Social Security Act of Nursing Home Facilities?
• How Can Human Resources Improve Nursing Home Management?
• What Are the Disadvantages of Living in a Nursing Home?
• How Important Is the Medical Aspect of a Nursing Home?
• Red Cross Titles
• Sociological Perspectives Titles
• First Aid Research Topics
• Healthcare Questions
• Intensive Care Research Topics
• Health Promotion Research Topics
• Gerontology Titles
• Alzheimer’s Disease Research Ideas
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/nursing-home-essay-topics/

"97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 2 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/nursing-home-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 2 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/nursing-home-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/nursing-home-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "97 Nursing Home Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/nursing-home-essay-topics/.

Academic Support for Nursing Students

No notifications.

Disclaimer: This essay has been written by a student and not our expert nursing writers. View professional sample essays here.

View full disclaimer

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NursingAnswers.net. This essay should not be treated as an authoritative source of information when forming medical opinions as information may be inaccurate or out-of-date.

Reflection on an experience in a nursing home

Info: 1620 words (6 pages) Nursing Essay Published: 13th Feb 2020

Reference this

If you need assistance with writing your nursing essay, our professional nursing essay writing service is here to help!

Single Loop learning:

Double loop learning, praxis statement, cite this work.

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below:

Related Services

• Nursing Essay Writing Service

• Nursing Dissertation Service

• Reflective Writing Service

DMCA / Removal Request

If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on the NursingAnswers.net website then please:

Our academic writing and marking services can help you!

• Marking Service
• Samples of our Work
• Full Service Portfolio

Related Lectures

Study for free with our range of nursing lectures!

• Drug Classification
• Emergency Care
• Health Observation
• Palliative Care
• Professional Values

Write for Us

Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher in nursing or healthcare?

Study Resources

Free resources to assist you with your nursing studies!

• APA Citation Tool
• Example Nursing Essays
• Example Nursing Assignments
• Example Nursing Case Studies
• Reflective Nursing Essays
• Nursing Literature Reviews
• Free Resources
• Reflective Model Guides
• Nursing and Healthcare Pay 2021

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essay Examples >
• Essays Topics >
• Essay on Elderly

Nursing Homes In The US Argumentative Essay Samples

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Elderly , Health , Home , Medicine , Services papers , Nursing , Family , Love

Words: 2500

Published: 03/16/2020

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

Employing the services of Nursing Homes is becoming a huge trend in the United States in recent years. Families can bring their elderly and ailing love ones to these nursing homes and pay for a certain cost to support their treatment. However, there is a growing debate within the country with regards to the use of these nursing homes as some groups believe families should take care of their love ones at home. Supporters to these alternative facilities argue that nursing homes would provide better care to their love ones, especially given the financial and living conditions. This paper will discuss the arguments surrounding the use of nursing home for love ones and answer as to why placing them to these homes would be beneficial or disadvantageous for the families thinking of using the service.

Placing Love Ones in Nursing Homes

When a person reaches the age of 70, family members would start clamoring for ideas as to what would be done in order to take care of their elderly family member. Some families opt to consider assigning someone to take care of their love ones at home due to the strict schedules of people today. Others would take care of their love ones by themselves due to the sentiment that it is the child’s responsibility to give back to their love ones. However, in recent years, there is a growing interest in many families to seek the assistance of nursing homes in order to take care of these elderly or ailing family members. Positions have greatly varied within the public regarding the presence of these nursing homes. Some argue that these nursing homes should not be trusted, while a few welcome its use. Families should place their love ones in nursing homes because these love ones would be taken care well by these nursing homes as they specialize in taking care of the specialized needs of these elderly and ailing family members despite the costs it entails. The exact definition of nursing homes have varied throughout the years given the lack of terminology for these services in the early years. However, according to Giacalone (2001), the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) defined nursing homes as “facilities with three or more beds that is either licensed as a nursing home by the state, certified as a nursing facility under Medicare or Medicaid, identified as a nursing unit in a retirement center, or determined to provide nursing or medical care”. Some institutions also call these facilities as extended care facilities, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and SNFs. Nursing homes often have state-of-the-art medical facilities and medical staff that can be called to duty 24/7. Before nursing homes can operate in the United States, they would have to apply for state licenses and adhere to reimbursement regulations, classification and termination policies. Most of these policies vary per state and some states would require separate licenses for nursing homes that have separate operations on all-day care facilities or medical accreditation . Purdy (2013) stated that nursing homes became known in the US since the 1930 when many American families brought their ailing family members to “poor houses.” Many criticized these poor houses due to their deplorable living conditions and health care. In 1935, the Congress passed the Social Security Act which was included in the New Deal program to support its aging population. Federal grants were given per state in order to improve health care, as well as the creation of nursing homes for the elderly and ailing. By the 1950s, nursing homes were licensed and at the same time, criticized for their operations. From the 50s to the 80s, exploitation was prominent in the industry and misled many Americans in the process. The government immediately responded in 1965 by passing the Older Americans Act and the Title III grants which would establish the community program for the elderly which would cater not just for their medical needs but also for their maintenance. Studies were also supportive over the initiative of the government and aided in the establishment of the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, which would regulate Medicare and Medicaid in providing financial assistance to nursing homes. The Act also added the necessary requirements for nursing home licensing. Since the growth of these nursing homes throughout the country, there are several sentiments that have been raised with regards to leaving loved ones in these nursing homes. Opponents cited three major arguments against nursing homes: cost and quality, reduction of self-reliance and independence and the trauma it entails to the loved ones. In terms of costs, it is reported by Ellis (2013) that nursing home services now costs up to $80,000 a year in comparison to its $67,527 five years ago. According to the Genworth 2013 Cost of Care Survey, factors such as insurance, food, maintenance and labor have triggered the increase of nursing home costs. As a result of these higher costs, a simple semi-private room nowadays now rate up to $75,405, 23% higher than it was five years ago. With these high fees, people tend to prefer using assistive living facilities that cost only up to $41,400. Others also prefer at-home care because it is cheaper to do these treatments at home, and they would also find it cheaper to pay for food and services . Hand in hand with the high costs is the quality of care these nursing homes can provide to family’s loved ones. Pesis-Katz, Phelps, Temkin-Greener, Spector, Veazie, and Mukamel (2013) stated that consumers are often misled by the high hotel-like quality of nursing homes around the country due to the misleading and inaccurate information available. Some of the information available for prospect residents come from the internet and sometimes, it is not easy to understand. Since customers cannot interpret and understand the information with regards to the quality of health care, they often prefer to select nursing homes with high grade hotel type service. They often use indirect methods to observe if the nursing home is good for their love ones. Some factors they take into consideration are nonprofit ownership and the number of occupancy, seeing it as a sign for high quality for its service and capability. As a result of the inconsistency of information, it is likely that the service they would get would not be suitable for their love ones . Loved ones who are placed in these nursing homes also feel the reduction of self-reliance and independence. According to the Illinois Council on Long Term Care (n.d.), any person who is admitted to nursing homes would lose their privileges to keep their apartments and homes. Most of their possessions would also be sold or given to charity, removing the possibility for the person to give the possessions as an inheritance to their children or grandchildren. Nursing homes only allow just a few possessions for these loved ones to hold; however, they would have to fit it on a small space that sometimes, they share with another person. Aside from losing their homes, loved ones admitted to nursing homes would also cause a loss of status, finances and relationships that may affect the loved one’s confidence and independence. Residents are also restricted from their movements considering that every activity is now timed by the institution and where the resident would need to stay. Finally, there are also implications to loved ones when they are placed in nursing homes, mostly changing their attitudes and development of trauma. Many would become angry for being placed in a nursing home especially with the loss of their possessions and rights. Some elderly often get angry because of the restrictions placed on their movements while in these institutions. As a result of their anger, they would become trouble-makers in the nursing home and it may hinder their recovery. Some, especially those who lose their love ones prior to their admission to these institutions, would feel bouts of depression or even regression. These residents would become overly dependent towards their caretakers or their love ones. There are also bouts of denial for these residents as they would feel that their condition or placement in the nursing home is not true. They believe that they would be removed from these centers soon and go home afterwards . However, while there are people against the use of nursing homes in the country, many Americans today prefer to use nursing homes due to the benefits it has for both the family and the love one that would be enrolled in this service. Many often prefer sending their loved ones on these nursing homes due to the all-round care provided by these facilities. According to the report by Sun Advocate (2008) and EHealthMedicare (n.d.), many of America’s nursing homes have available professionals to cater to emergencies and immediate medical support 24 hours a day. While doctors may not always be available in the early hours of the day, nurses are trained to take care of their patients and do rounds regularly. If these love ones were taken care of at home, their family members would not be able to cater to the exact need of the ailing or elderly loved one. The family would have to adopt with the schedule of the elder, which may prevent them from going to their own duties on time. With nursing homes available, families can visit their family members on free days and be assured that their love ones are treated and monitored regularly. In addition, these professionals and personnel can also provide specialized treatment necessary to improve the health and well-being of the citizen. Nursing homes have custodial care, which aids in preparing meals, bathing and dressing for their residences. The skilled nursing care unite is where the nurses and rehabilitation specialist would determine what type of care or treatment would be done. This type of care would include activities such as medication management, wound care and specialized functions depending on the availability of medical equipment in the facility. Some facilities also offer rehabilitation services, especially for patients which have been placed under surgery and other strenuous activity. The doctor of the resident would be able to determine as to how long rehabilitation would occur. Finally, nursing homes are also well known for their long-term care facilities to aid patients with major diseases. Prescription drugs and medical supplies are also readily available for use by these workers to ensure continuous service and treatment for residents. Nursing homes also allow their love ones to meet up new friends and acquaintances as nursing homes are like small communities. In at-home treatments and care, the elderly or ailing family member would only have limited contact with their peers. However, in nursing homes, they are able to be with their age group and even go on regular social gatherings and celebrations: may it be visits to museums or simple group meals in the nursing home. In some instances, nursing homes actually incite socialization given that the nursing home acts as a special home for its patients and residents. They can use the open kitchens and public areas to meet up with their fellow residents. Nursing homes also may have sectors catering for other in-need residents, who are not necessarily elderly. They may also find certain nursing homes that would permit couples in staying together to provide a good environment for their development and recovery. Nursing homes are also quite safe and promises to provide excellent service as these nursing homes are regularly checked by the United States government for their capacity and services. Medicare and Medicaid also provide regular reviews to the public in order to determine which nursing homes adhere to their policies. Evaluations are done regularly to ensure that quality is not compromised and it is expected that nursing homes update their programs to stay up-to-date to the new improvements in healthcare . Nursing homes also make sure that patients do not endanger themselves further especially with the onset of very complicated diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s . Family must always be cherished no matter what one feels about each family member. As these family members get older, it is crucial that they are given all the love and care possible to make their lives comfortable in their final years. However, taking care of these ailing and elderly family members can be very difficult especially due to the medical and financial needs of these loved ones. With the introduction of nursing homes, families now have a choice to use these services to take care of their love ones. On the one hand, these nursing homes can be quite costly each year and it is a question as to whether or not the service matches the cost. These nursing homes can even make the situation of the elderly and ailing family members to worsen due to the impact of their residencies. On the other hand, using nursing homes not only benefits the family member but also the family in general. The family member would greatly benefit due to the ready access to health care, while family members would be relieved with the financial burden attached with taking care of these love ones.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, May 14). Nursing Home Care. Retrieved from CDC FastStats: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/nursing-home-care.htm EHealth Medicare. (n.d.). Nursing Homes and Medicare. Retrieved from EHealthMedicare: http://www.ehealthmedicare.com/about-medicare/nursing-homes/ Ellis, B. (2013, April 9). Nursing home costs top $80,000. Retrieved from CNN Money: http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/09/retirement/nursing-home-costs/ Giacalone, J. (2001). The U.S. Nursing Home Industry. New York: M.E. Sharpe. Illinois Council on Long Term Care. (n.d.). Understanding the Transition to Life in a Nursing Home. Retrieved from Family Resource Center: http://nursinghome.org/fam/fam_004.html Pesis-Katz, I., Phelps, C. E., Temkin-Greener, H., Spector, W. D., Veazie, P., & Mukamel, D. B. (2013). Making Difficult Decisions: The Role of Quality of Care in Choosing a Nursing Home. American Journal of Public Health, 103(5). Purdy, E. (2013). Nursing homes. Ipswich: Salem Press. Sun Advocate. (2009, April 10). Advantages and disadvantages of nursing home care for the elderly. Retrieved from Sun Advocate: http://www.sunad.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=12944

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Finished papers: 710

This paper is created by writer with

ID 272090852

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

Western civilization literature reviews, campus book reviews, clinic book reviews, acquisition book reviews, buyer book reviews, minimum book reviews, winner book reviews, massage book reviews, pool book reviews, comprehension book reviews, intent book reviews, excess book reviews, questionnaire book reviews, signal book reviews, managing change in organizations course work example, controlling or eliminating stress essay, essay on factors affecting functions of enzymes, free personal statement about what qualities or unique characteristics do you possess that would allow you to, example of essay on charlotte perkins gilman, good the beginning of a short story essay example, pros to animal experimentation research paper sample, good gender differences in attitudes towards homosexuality essay example, free review of literature article review sample, good essay about three art pieces, good essay about numerical information, free descartes renes wax experiment essay sample, example of research proposal on mba dissertation proposal, sample term paper on environmental policy and regulation air quality school bus idling, good example of research paper on qualitative critical analysis missed nursing care, free united states bill of rights essay sample, good essay on reaction paper, traditional irish music research paper samples, free hypnosis term paper example, law enforcement agencies essays example, diagnosing the change research paper examples, pain management essay sample, good example of work teams essay, free essay about afghanistan released prisoners, sample research paper on schizophrenia, esmarch essays, euthanizing essays, angiomas essays.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

How to Write a Nursing Essay with a Quick Guide

Ever felt the blank-page panic when assigned a nursing essay? Wondering where to start or if your words will measure up to the weight of your experiences? Fear not, because today, we're here to guide you through this process.

Imagine you're at your favorite coffee spot, armed with a cup of motivation (and maybe a sneaky treat). Got it? Great! Now, let's spill the secrets on how to spin your nursing tales into words that not only get you that A+ but also tug at the heartstrings of anyone reading. We've got your back with nursing essay examples that'll be your inspiration, an outline to keep you on the right path, and more!

What Is a Nursing Essay

Let's start by dissecting the concept. A nursing essay serves as a focused exploration of a specific aspect of nursing, providing an opportunity for students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and its practical application in patient care settings.

Picture it as a journey through the challenges and victories of a budding nurse. These essays go beyond the classroom, tackling everything from tricky ethical dilemmas to the impact of healthcare policies on the front lines. It's not just about grades; it's about proving, 'I'm ready for the real deal.'

So, when you read or write a nursing essay, it's not just words on paper. It's like looking into the world of someone who's about to start their nursing career – someone who's really thought about the ins and outs of being a nurse. And before you kick off your nursing career, don't shy away from asking - write my essay for me - we're ready to land a professional helping hand.

How to Start a Nursing Essay

When you start writing a nursing essay, it is like gearing up for a crucial mission. Here's your quick guide from our nursing essay writing service :

Choosing Your Topic: Select a topic that sparks your interest and relates to real-world nursing challenges. Consider areas like patient care, ethical dilemmas, or the impact of technology on healthcare.

Outline Your Route : Plan your essay's journey. Create a roadmap with key points you want to cover. This keeps you on track and your essay on point.

Craft a Strong Thesis: Assuming you already know how to write a hook , kick off your writing with a surprising fact, a thought-provoking quote, or a brief anecdote. Then, state your main argument or perspective in one sentence. This thesis will serve as the compass for your essay, guiding both you and your reader through the rest of your writing.

How to Structure a Nursing Essay

Every great essay is like a well-orchestrated performance – it needs a script, a narrative that flows seamlessly, capturing the audience's attention from start to finish. In our case, this script takes the form of a well-organized structure. Let's delve into the elements that teach you how to write a nursing essay, from a mere collection of words to a compelling journey of insights.

Nursing Essay Introduction

Begin your nursing essay with a spark. Knowing how to write essay introduction effectively means sharing a real-life scenario or a striking fact related to your topic. For instance, if exploring patient care, narrate a personal experience that made a lasting impression. Then, crisply state your thesis – a clear roadmap indicating the direction your essay will take. Think of it as a teaser that leaves the reader eager to explore the insights you're about to unfold.

In the main body, dive into the heart of your essay. Each paragraph should explore a specific aspect of your topic. Back your thoughts with examples – maybe a scenario from your clinical experience, a relevant case study, or findings from credible sources. Imagine it as a puzzle coming together; each paragraph adds a piece, forming a complete picture. Keep it focused and let each idea flow naturally into the next.

Nursing Essay Conclusion

As writing a nursing essay nears the end, resist the urge to introduce new elements. Summarize your main points concisely. Remind the reader of the real-world significance of your thesis – why it matters in the broader context of nursing. Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or a call to reflection, leaving your reader with a lasting impression. It's like the final scene of a movie that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

Nursing Essay Outline

Before diving into the essay, craft a roadmap – your outline. This isn't a rigid skeleton but a flexible guide that ensures your ideas flow logically. Consider the following template from our research paper writing service :

Introduction

• Opening Hook: Share a brief, impactful patient care scenario.
• Relevance Statement: Explain why the chosen topic is crucial in nursing.
• Thesis: Clearly state the main argument or perspective.

Patient-Centered Care:

• Definition: Clarify what patient-centered care means in nursing.
• Personal Experience: Share a relevant encounter from clinical practice.
• Evidence: Integrate findings from reputable nursing literature.

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice

• Scenario Presentation: Describe a specific ethical challenge faced by nurses.
• Decision-Making Process: Outline steps taken to address the dilemma.
• Ethical Frameworks: Discuss any ethical theories guiding the decision.

Impact of Technology on Nursing

• Current Trends: Highlight technological advancements in nursing.
• Case Study: Share an example of technology enhancing patient care.
• Challenges and Benefits: Discuss the pros and cons of technology in nursing.
• Summary of Key Points: Recap the main ideas from each section.
• Real-world Implications: Emphasize the practical significance in nursing practice.
• Closing Thought: End with a reflective statement or call to action.

A+ in Nursing Essays Await You!

Ready to excel? Let us guide you. Click now for professional nursing essay writing assistance.

Nursing Essay Examples

Here are the nursing Essay Examples for you to read.

Writing a Nursing Essay: Essential Tips

When it comes to crafting a stellar nursing essay, a few key strategies can elevate your work from ordinary to exceptional. Here are some valuable tips from our medical school personal statement writer :

Connect with Personal Experiences:

• Approach: Weave personal encounters seamlessly into your narrative.
• Reasoning: This not only adds authenticity to your essay but also serves as a powerful testament to your firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs in the nursing field.

Emphasize Critical Thinking:

• Approach: Go beyond describing situations; delve into their analysis.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays are the perfect platform to showcase your critical thinking skills – an essential attribute in making informed decisions in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Incorporate Patient Perspectives:

• Approach: Integrate patient stories or feedback into your discussion.
• Reasoning: By bringing in the human element, you demonstrate empathy and an understanding of the patient's experience, a core aspect of nursing care.

Integrate Evidence-Based Practice:

• Approach: Support your arguments with the latest evidence-based literature.
• Reasoning: Highlighting your commitment to staying informed and applying current research underscores your dedication to evidence-based practice – a cornerstone in modern nursing.

Address Ethical Considerations:

• Approach: Explicitly discuss the ethical dimensions of your topic.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays provide a platform to delve into the ethical complexities inherent in healthcare, showcasing your ability to navigate and analyze these challenges.

Balance Theory and Practice:

• Approach: Connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
• Reasoning: By bridging the gap between theory and practice, you illustrate your capacity to apply academic knowledge effectively in the dynamic realm of nursing.

Highlight Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Approach: Discuss collaborative efforts with other healthcare professionals.
• Reasoning: Acknowledging the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare underscores your understanding of the importance of teamwork – a vital aspect of successful nursing practice.

Reflect on Lessons Learned:

• Approach: Conclude with a thoughtful reflection on personal growth or lessons from your exploration.
• Reasoning: This not only provides a satisfying conclusion but also demonstrates your self-awareness and commitment to continuous improvement as a nursing professional.

As we wrap up, think of your essay as a story about your journey into nursing. It's not just about getting a grade; it's a way to share what you've been through and why you want to be a nurse.

Imagine the person reading it – maybe a teacher, a future coworker, or someone starting their nursing journey. They're trying to understand your passion and why you care about nursing.

So, when you write, remember it's more than just an assignment. It's your chance to show why nursing matters to you. And if you ever need help – there's always support from our essay writer online .

Ready to Excel in Your Nursing School Essay?

Order now and experience the expertise of our professional writers!

How to Write a Nursing Essay?

How can a nursing essay effectively address ethical considerations, what are some examples of evidence-based practices in nursing essays.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

Essays on Nursing Home

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Medicare — The Benefits of Nursing Homes

The Benefits of Nursing Homes

• Categories: Medicare

About this sample

Words: 498 |

Published: Jul 17, 2018

Words: 498 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

• Johnson, R. W., & Wiener, J. M. (2006). A Profile of Frail Older Americans and Their Caregivers. The Urban Institute.
• Bullock, K., & Hamblin, A. (2008). The Development of Community-Based Services for Older People: A Focus on Home Care. The British Journal of Social Work, 38(3), 541-558.
• Kane, R. A., & Kane, R. L. (2000). Assessing Older Persons: Measures, Meaning, and Practical Applications. Oxford University Press.
• Gitlin, L. N., Winter, L., Dennis, M. P., Hodgson, N., & Hauck, W. W. (2010). Targeting and Managing Behavioral Symptoms in Individuals With Dementia: A Randomized Trial of a Nonpharmacological Intervention. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(8), 1465-1474.
• Gaugler, J. E., Mittelman, M. S., Hepburn, K., Newcomer, R., & Dorn, K. (2010). Effects of Dementia Caregiving on Caregiver Depressive Symptoms, Social Support, and Health: A Longitudinal Analysis. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 65B(6), 788-798.
• Home Care Assistance. (n.d.). In-Home Care for Seniors with Cognitive Decline. Retrieved from https://homecareassistance.com/cognitive-therapeutics-methods
• Verghese, J., Lipton, R. B., Katz, M. J., Hall, C. B., Derby, C. A., Kuslansky, G., ... & Buschke, H. (2003). Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly. The New England Journal of Medicine, 348(25), 2508-2516.
• Schulz, R., & Sherwood, P. R. (2008). Physical and Mental Health Effects of Family Caregiving. The American Journal of Nursing, 108(9 Suppl), 23-27.
• National Institute on Aging. (2021). Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips: Home Safety. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-caregiving-tips-home-safety
• Brodaty, H., & Donkin, M. (2009). Family Caregivers of People with Dementia. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 11(2), 217-228.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Nursing & Health

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 642 words

1 pages / 363 words

5 pages / 2447 words

1 pages / 311 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Medicare

American Nurse Association (2015) defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis [...]

Nursing is an exciting profession, but with the levels of interest, there is still a sheer level of challenges that are encountered in the nursing environment. Thus, by writing a nursing reflective essay, I would identify the [...]

Medicine and care had to develop very quickly during the war to deal with different types of injuries and casualties and In this essay, I will talk to you about how the doctors in World War One helped the wounded and I will talk [...]

The male reproductive system is a series of organs located outside and in pelvis region. The male reproductive systems main purpose is to provide sperm to fertilize the ovum. The major parts of the male are the sperm production [...]

In 2018, the U.S. spent approximately $3.6 trillion on healthcare, meaning an average of around $11,000 was spent per individual. With healthcare expenses rising in the U.S. everyday many people believe that healthcare should be [...]

Chemotherapy uses cytotoxic drugs to target cancer cells by killing them or preventing their growth and division (Macmillan, 2015). This means that chemotherapy is used ideally to stop the growth of cancer cells, but if this is [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• +16893146888
• [email protected]

Nursing Writing Services - Blog

-nurse student companion-, how to write an essay about nursing homes.

Nurses play a vital role in the caring for our loved ones. They have tight schedules and are in various healthcare facilities. Today, nurses are involved in more challenging roles than what they were doing in the past as some of the work they are now doing, initially, was reserved for the physicians and the doctors as more areas introduced in the field of nursing than what it used to be in the past. As more medical research and advances continue, so is the growth of new specialties such as labor, psychiatry, pediatric that are being introduced by many nursing institutions ensuring that the students have the right skillsets after finishing their learning.

Nurses are care parents in most facilities as their individual responsibilities are the first vital skill they possess. Many of them come from different patients suffering from serious health problems. Juggling one’s emotions and the physical pressures to care and treat patients are some but of the few responsibilities, they should have.

So, why are most of them in most residential homes? Nursing homes are vital to the elderly community as they provide 24 hrs 7 days a week nursing care to the elderly. These homes also provide short-term stays for people with illnesses or injuries, those coming out of surgery, others who require therapy be it physical or occupational.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes started as early as the 17th Century. At that time, they were known as poorhouses or almshouses, which first came into existence in the US after the first English settlers, settled in their country. The poorhouses housed the poor elderly, mentally ill people and the orphans since they offered them a place to have shelter and daily meals.

For one to offer care to these homes, they require a nurse who is registered and must be present in the residential area for daily assessment of the patient’s health. Their job description involves the administering of medications, writing and implementing care plans and monitoring any medical changes that are visible and take the necessary steps.

Becoming a registered nurse requires one to complete nursing programs laid by their institutions and pass. Licensed practical nurses had to complete a state-approved the program and pass the national licensing examination for them to begin working in these facilities.

Also Read: Nursing Personal Statement Writing Service

There reaches a time where care is vital to the elderly. Most of them require assistance with daily activities which some may be tough or too much for them. The aged usually have bad or negative thoughts towards nursing homes but looking at the positive side, it does make more sense to offer health and safety to them an activity you may not be able to cope up. Therefore, what are the advantages of nursing homes?

Benefits of a Nursing Home

1. These facilities have expert trained staffs who are mostly nurses who offer great medical healthcare that is 24-hours a day. Nurses here are of various specialties i.e. Dieticians, Nutritionists etc. Who ensure proper health and nutrition given to the patient.

2. These homes offer social activities and community care to patients making them feel at home.

3. All homes registered with the state often require evaluation and reports sent to Medicare. It ensures that the facilities offer exceptional health and guidance to the elderly and that they run in the best possible manner.

4. A lot of demands that most of these patients require to seem costly, therefore, it will reduce the workload as some of the people may not have the time and resources needed for the great caring of the patients.

The average ages for many patients found in the facilities are between the ages of sixty and above. Although nursing homes are good, not all people are able to afford the payments required for their loved ones. Some of the institutions also find it difficult to obtain a license from the state as some of the standards cannot be easily met.

NursingWritingServices.com is a reputable online platform that provides top-notch nursing writing services to students and professionals in the healthcare industry. The website is dedicated to offering high-quality academic and professional writing services to meet the unique needs of individuals seeking nursing-related help.

Discover More

Latest Samples

Contact info, company menu.

• Contacts Us
• Our Writers & Editors
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Fraud Policy
• Fair Use Policy
• Revision Policy
• Money Back Guarantee Policy
• Testimonials & Customer Reviews

Popular Services

• Write My Nursing Research Proposal
• Adelaide Nursing Writing Services
• Australia Nursing Writing Services
• Best Nursing Care Plan Writers
• Best Nursing Case Study Writers
• Best Nursing Dissertation Writers
• Best Nursing Essay Writers
• Best Nursing Research Paper Writers
• Best Nursing Term Paper Writers
• Best Nursing Thesis Writers
• Brisbane Nursing Writing services
• Legit Nursing Writers
• Melbourne Nursing Writing Services
• New Zealand Nursing Writing Services
• Nursing Admission Essay Writers

Nursing Home Essays

Fall rate reduction in a nursing home, popular essay topics.

• American Dream
• Artificial Intelligence
• Black Lives Matter
• Bullying Essay
• Career Goals Essay
• Causes of the Civil War
• Child Abusing
• Civil Rights Movement
• Community Service
• Cultural Identity
• Cyber Bullying
• Death Penalty
• Depression Essay
• Domestic Violence
• Freedom of Speech
• Global Warming
• Gun Control
• Human Trafficking
• I Believe Essay
• Immigration
• Importance of Education
• Israel and Palestine Conflict
• Leadership Essay
• Legalizing Marijuanas
• Mental Health
• National Honor Society
• Police Brutality
• Pollution Essay
• Racism Essay
• Romeo and Juliet
• Same Sex Marriages
• Social Media
• The Great Gatsby
• The Yellow Wallpaper
• Time Management
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Violent Video Games
• What Makes You Unique
• Why I Want to Be a Nurse
• Send us an e-mail

What working in a nursing home taught me about life, death, and America’s cultural values

by Valery Hazanov

The first thing I noticed when I began working in a nursing home was the smell. It's everywhere. A mix of detergent and hospital smell and, well, people in nursing homes wear diapers. It's one of those smells that takes over everything — if you're not used to it, it's hard to think about anything else.

Being in the nursing home is tough. People weep and smell and drool. Sometimes you can go on the floor and hear a woman in her 90s scream, "I want Mommy."

But it's also ordinary — just people living together: gossiping, daydreaming, reading, watching TV, scratching their back when it itches.

For the past eight months I have been working as a psychotherapist with dying patients in nursing homes in New York City. It's an unusual job for a psychotherapist — and the first one I took after graduating with a PhD in clinical psychology. My colleagues were surprised. "Why not a hospital? Or an outpatient clinic? Do the patients even have a psychiatric diagnosis?"

The short answer is that I wanted to see what death looks and feels like — to learn from it. I hope that I can also help someone feel a little less lonely, a little more (is there a measure to it?) reconciled.

I haven't gotten used to the smell yet. But I have been thinking a lot about the nursing home and the people who live and die there, and wanted to share what I learned.

1) At the end, only the important things remain

"This is all I have left," a patient recently told me, pointing to a photograph of himself and his wife.

It made me notice the things people bring to the nursing home. The rooms are usually small, so what people bring is important to them. If they have a family, there will be photos of them (most popular are the photos of grandchildren). There might also be a few cherished books, a get-well-soon card, a painting by a grandchild or a nephew, some clothes, maybe flowers. And that's about it. The world shrinks in the nursing home, and only a few things remain: things that feel important — like they're worth fighting for, while we still can.

2) Having a routine is key to happiness

More on dying well.

It's never too early to start thinking about your own death

I'm a little lazy. My ideal vacation is doing nothing, maybe on a deserted beach somewhere. I look in terror upon very scheduled, very planned people. Yet I have been noticing that doing nothing rarely fills me with joy, while doing something sometimes does. Hence, the conflict: Should I push myself to do things, or should I go with the flow and do things only when I feel like doing them? Being in a nursing home changed my perspective somewhat: I noticed that all the patients who do well follow a routine. Their routines are different but always involve some structure and internal discipline.

I am working with a 94-year-old woman. She wakes up at 6:30 am every day, makes her bed, goes for a stroll with a walker, eats breakfast, exercises in the "rehabilitation room," reads, eats lunch, naps, goes for another walk, drinks tea with a friend, eats dinner, and goes to bed. She has a well-defined routine. She pushes herself to do things, some of which are very difficult for her, without asking herself why it is important to do them. And, I think, this is what keeps her alive — her movement, her pushing, is her life.

Observing her, I have been coming to the conclusion that it might be true for all of us. And I often think about her when I am debating whether to go for a run or not, whether to write for a couple more hours or not, whether to finally get up from the couch and clean my apartment or not — she would do it, I know, so maybe I should, too.

3) Old people have the same range of emotions as everyone else

"You are so handsome. Are you married?" is something I hear only in extended-family gatherings and in nursing homes. People flirt with me there all the time. This has nothing to do with their age or health — but rather with whether they are shy. When we see someone who is in his 90s and is all bent and wrinkled and sits in a wheelchair, we might think he doesn't feel anything except physical pain — especially not any sexual urges. That's not true.

As long as people live, they feel everything. They feel lust and regret and sadness and joy. And denying that, because of our own discomfort, is one of the worst things we can do to old people.

Patients in nursing home gossip ("Did you know that this nurse is married to the social worker?"), flirt, make jokes, cry, feel helpless, complain of boredom. "What does someone in her 80s talk about?" a colleague asked me. "About the same things," I replied, "only with more urgency."

Some people don't get that, and talk to old people as if they were children. "How are we today, Mr. Goldstein?" I heard someone ask in a high-pitched voice of a former history professor in his 80s, and then without waiting for a response added, "Did we poopie this morning?" Yes, we did poopie this morning. But we also remembered a funny story from last night and thought about death and about our grandchildren and about whether we could sleep with you because your neck looks nice.

4) Old people are invisible in American culture

People at the nursing home like to watch TV. It's always on. How strange, then, that there are no old people on TV.

Here's a picture I see every day: It's the middle of the day and there is a cooking show or a talk show on, and the host is in her 50s, let's say, but obviously looks much younger, and her guest is in his 30s or 50s and also looks younger, and they talk in this hyper-enthusiastic voice about how "great!" their dish or their new movie is, or how "sad!" the story they just heard was. Watching them is a room full of pensive people in their 80s and 90s who are not quite sure what all the fuss is about. They don't see themselves there. They don't belong there.

I live in Brooklyn, and I rarely see old people around. I rarely see them in Manhattan, either. When I entered the nursing home for the first time I remember thinking that it feels like a prison or a psychiatric institution: full of people who are outside of society, rarely seen on the street. In other cultures, old people are esteemed and valued, and you see them around. In this manic, death-denying culture we live in, there seems to be little place for a melancholic outlook from someone that doesn't look "young!" and "great!" but might know something about life that we don't.

There isn't one Big Truth about life that the patients in the nursing home told me that I can report back; it's a certain perspective, a combination of all the small things. Things like this, which a patient in her 80s told me while we were looking outside: "Valery, one day you will be my age, God willing, and you will sit here, where I sit now, and you will look out of the window, as I do now. And you want to do that without regret and envy; you want to just look out at the world outside and be okay with not being a part of it anymore."

5) The only distraction from pain is spiritual

Some people in the nursing home talk about their physical pain all the time; others don't. They talk about other things instead, and it's rarely a sign of whether they are in pain or not.

Here's my theory: If for most of your life you are concerned with the mundane (which, think about it, always involves personal comfort) then when you get old and feel a lot of pain, that's going to be the only thing you're going to think about. It's like a muscle — you developed the mundane muscle and not the other one.

And you can't start developing the spiritual muscle when you're old. If you didn't really care about anything outside of yourself (like books, or sports, or your brother, or what is a moral life), you're not going to start when you're old and in terrible pain. Your terrible pain will be the only thing on your mind.

But if you have developed the spiritual muscle — not me, not my immediate comfort — you'll be fine; it will work. I have a couple of patients in their 90s who really care about baseball — they worried whether the Mets were going to make the playoffs this year, so they rarely talked about anything else; or a patient who is concerned about the future of the Jewish diaspora and talks about it most of our sessions; or a patient who was worried that not going to a Thanksgiving dinner because of her anxieties about her "inappropriately old" appearance was actually a selfish act that was not fair to her sister. Concerns like these make physical pain more bearable, maybe because they make it less important.

6) If you don't have kids, getting old is tough

The decision to have kids is personal, and consists of so many factors: financial, medical, moral, and so on. There are no rights or wrongs here, obviously. But when we are really old and drooling and wearing a diaper, and it's physically unpleasant to look at our wounds or to smell us, the only people who might be there consistently, when we need them, are going to be either paid to do so (which is okay but not ideal) or our children. A dedicated nephew might come from time to time. An old friend will visit.

But chances are that our siblings will be very old by then, and our parents will be dead, which leaves only children to be there when we need it. Think about it when you are considering whether to have children. The saddest people I see in the nursing home are childless.

7) Think about how you want to die

José Arcadio Buendía in One Hundred Years of Solitude dies under a tree in his own backyard. That's a pretty great death.

People die in different ways in the nursing home. Some with regrets; others in peace. Some cling to the last drops of life; others give way. Some planned their deaths and prepared for them — making their deaths meaningful, not random. A woman in her 90s recently told me, "Trees die standing tall." This is how she wants to go: standing, not crawling.

I think of death as a tour guide to my life — "Look here; pay attention to this!" the guide tells me. Maybe not the most cheerful one, slightly overweight and irritated, but certainly one who knows a lot and can point to the important things while avoiding the popular, touristy stuff. He can tell me that if I want to die under a tree in my backyard, for example, it might make sense to live in a house with a backyard and a tree. To you, he will say that if you don't want any extra procedures done to you at the end, it might make sense to talk about it with the people who will eventually make this decision. That if you want to die while hang-gliding over an ocean, then, who knows, maybe that's also possible.

My father, who has spent the past 30 years working in an ICU as a cardiologist and has seen many deaths, once told me that if he had to choose, he would choose dying well over living well — the misery of a terrible, regretful death feels worse to him than a misery of a terrible life, but a peaceful death feels like the ultimate reward. I think I am beginning to see his point.

I am 33. Sometimes it feels like a lot — close to the end; sometimes, it doesn't. Depends on the day, I guess. And like all of us, including the people in the nursing home, I am figuring things out, trying to do my best with the time I have. To not waste it.

Recently, I had a session with a woman in her 90s who has not been feeling well.

"It's going in a very clear direction," she told me. "Toward the end."

"It's true for all of us," I replied.

"No, sweetheart. There is a big difference: You have much more time."

Valery Hazanov, PhD , is a clinical psychologist in Brooklyn. He is writing a book about his training to become a psychotherapist.

First Person is Vox's home for compelling, provocative narrative essays. Do you have a story to share? Read our submission guidelines , and pitch us at [email protected] .

Most Popular

• Why Musk and Trump are on the same side
• The fight over Jordan Chiles’s bronze medal is barely about gymnastics
• The mpox outbreak never ended in Africa. Now a deadlier strain is spreading.
• The surprising truth about loneliness in America
• Traveling has never been better if you’re rich — but it’s worse if you’re not

Today, Explained

Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling stories of the day.

This is the title for the native ad

More in archives

Given the Court’s Republican supermajority, this case is unlikely to end well for trans people.

Learn about saving, spending, investing, and more in a monthly personal finance advice column written by Nicole Dieker.

The latest news, analysis, and explainers coming out of the GOP Iowa caucuses.

The economy’s stacked against us.

A Texas judge issued a national ruling against medication abortion. Here’s what you need to know.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

Tips for Writing Your Nursing Program College Essays

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Giebien Na in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

The importance of your college essays, general advice for writing your nursing essays.

If you know you want to be a nurse, you probably have quite a few reasons for that. Instead of merely relying on your academic and test performances to tell your story, you get the opportunity in your essays to share exactly why you’re so passionate about nursing. Writing about this can be a clarifying and even exciting process. This article explains why college application essays matter and how you should write about why you want to become a nurse.

Grades and test scores matter when you’re applying to college, but your essays can help improve your chances of admission. They’re how you can express your experiences and make your desire to become a nurse clear and personal.

If your prospective school doesn’t have supplemental essays, it’s a good idea to include your interest in nursing in your Common App essay . This could mean that you end up with two different drafts of the essay: one for if there are supplemental essays where you can discuss your interests in nursing and one for if there are not. You’ll change them out depending on whether you also have to respond to specific prompts about why you want to pursue nursing. This may not sound like much fun, but it will help you be admitted to your school of choice.

It might seem exciting to apply to a place where you don’t have to write extra essays—it’s less work! If you don’t do that additional work, though, you’ll have fewer chances to explain yourself. You might not be able to share exactly why you think that you’re the right fit for a certain college or program. 

If you are writing supplemental essays for the colleges that you’re interested in, you can include more details about your passion for nursing. You’ll often be asked, “why this major?” or “why this school?” When you have those opportunities to share your specific reasons, you can let yourself get personal and go deep into your passion. Use that space to share important details about who you are.

Start Broad

When writing essays entirely about why you want to pursue nursing , try to start from a broad interest, then slowly work your way to telling specific personal stories and goals. 

When first thinking about your general interest in nursing, ask yourself what attracts you to the work of being a nurse. This can lead to powerful potential responses. Maybe you like taking care of people in the community. Perhaps you’ve always known that you wanted to make a difference in the healthcare profession, but you don’t want to be a doctor. You’d rather make patients’ healthcare experiences as comfortable and pleasant as possible. 

After you’ve described these broad, overarching motivations for wanting to go into nursing, consider any personal experiences that have made you want to be a nurse. Think about moments you’ve had during hospital visits or checkups or an anecdote from a time that you decided to volunteer in a healthcare role. Once you’ve written these stories, you can end the essay by discussing your planned major and career goals.

Discuss Your Future Goals

If you know what your end goal is, be sure to include it. You can write about becoming a registered nurse or maybe a nurse practitioner. It doesn’t have to be set in stone , but sharing a final ambition can help anchor your personal narrative. Writing about the future that you want can help the admissions officer reading your essay see how you view yourself. If they can do this, they’ll better understand your values and motivations and see you as a real candidate for their school. 

You don’t have to follow this pattern exactly. For example, it can be powerful to begin your essay in the middle of the action—you can dive right into an anecdote and get the reader interested in your story from the jump. 

While you should avoid dramatization, starting with a few clear, memorable scenes or a line or two of dialogue can make for an instantly interesting essay. All of this helps you show your passion, rather than simply explaining what intrigues you about a nursing career. 

Once you’ve led with your narrative, though, remember to ground it in clear reasons for your intended career and what you want your future to look like. A good essay will be balanced between the past, present, and future. It’s how a college will see who you are and everything that you have to offer.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Healthcare (Basel)

Wishes and Needs of Nursing Home Residents: A Scoping Review

Roxana schweighart.

1 Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany; [email protected]

Julie Lorraine O’Sullivan

2 Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; [email protected]

Malte Klemmt

3 Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; [email protected] (M.K.); [email protected] (S.N.)

Andrea Teti

Silke neuderth.

Falling birth rates and rising life expectancy are leading to global aging. The proportional increase in older people can be observed in almost all countries and regions worldwide. As a result, more people spend their later years in nursing homes. In homes where person-centered care is implemented, residents report greater satisfaction and quality of life. This approach is based on the wishes and needs of the residents. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to explore the wishes and needs of nursing home residents. A scoping review of the literature was conducted in which 12 databases were systematically searched for relevant articles according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Both quantitative and qualitative study designs were considered. A total of 51 articles met the inclusion criteria. Included articles were subjected to thematic analysis and synthesis to categorize findings into themes. The analysis identified 12 themes to which the wishes and needs were assigned: (1) Activities, leisure, and daily routine; (2) Autonomy, independence, choice, and control; (3) Death, dying, and end-of-life; (4) Economics; (5) Environment, structural conditions, meals, and food; (6) Health condition; (7) Medication, care, treatment, and hygiene; (8) Peer relationship, company, and social contact; (9) Privacy; (10) Psychological and emotional aspects, security, and safety; (11) Religion, spirituality; and (12) Sexuality. Nursing home residents are not a homogeneous group. Accordingly, a wide range of needs and wishes are reported in the literature, assigned to various topics. This underscores the need for tailored and person-centered approaches to ensure long-term well-being and quality of life in the nursing home care setting.

1. Introduction

Declines in fertility rates and increases in life expectancy are leading to global population aging. The proportional growth of older people in almost all countries and regions worldwide supports this premise [ 1 ]. This demographic change is considered one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century by the United Nations [ 1 ].

In parallel, the number of older people in need of care is also increasing. In Germany, for instance, more than 800,000 people were receiving full inpatient care in a nursing home (NH) at the end of 2019 [ 2 ]. These trends bring forth the projection that by 2030 there will be a demand for 1.3 million NH places [ 3 ].

Quality of care and residents’ quality of life is still suboptimal in some NHs. Efforts are being made to implement a culture change to improve the quality of the homes [ 4 ]. This change is intended to shift away from a focus on physical care and a standardized approach to person-centered and individualized care. The person-centered approach is holistic and views residents as individuals. Respectful discourse with the resident is fundamental to promote care oriented to resident needs and values [ 4 , 5 ].

In NHs where person-centered care is implemented, residents are more satisfied with the quality of care and service. Life satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and quality of life are also higher among residents of homes with person-centered care [ 6 , 7 ]. Implementation of person-centered care for NH residents requires a foundation built on the recognition of their wishes and needs. Thus, fulfilled wishes and needs lead to greater life satisfaction [ 8 ]. Consequently, identifying and addressing these can improve quality of life and care for NH residents. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to provide an empirical overview of the range of wishes and needs of NH residents. Previous reviews have already assessed the wishes and needs of older people. However, these have focused either on people receiving home care [ 9 ] or exclusively on NH residents with dementia [ 10 , 11 ].

We conducted the present review in accordance with the framework proposed by Peters et al. from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) [ 12 ]. The framework includes the following nine steps:

(1) Defining and aligning the objective and question; (2) Developing and aligning the inclusion and exclusion criteria with the objective and question; (3) Describing the planned approach to evidence searching, selection, data extraction, and presentation of the evidence; (4) Searching for the evidence; (5) Selecting the evidence; (6) Extracting the evidence; (7) Analyzing of the evidence; (8) Presenting the results; and (9) Summarizing the evidence in relation to the purpose of the review, making conclusions, and noting any implications of the findings.

We registered the protocol for the study in advance on the Center for Open Science (OSF) in October 2020 [ 13 ]. The review process was conducted and the findings were documented and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist [ 14 ].

2.1. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Beforehand, the authors defined the inclusion and exclusion criteria jointly and recurrently reviewed these during the process. Empirical qualitative and quantitative articles that included wishes and needs of people living permanently in a NH were included in the review. Both articles with self-reported and proxy-reported wishes and needs were considered. On average, residents were required to be 60 years of age or older. In addition, we considered only articles published between the years 1990 and 2020 written in English or German. Of interest were studies that included the constructs “wishes” and/or “needs”. To assure this, a definition was established in advance. Generally speaking, defining wishes and needs includes the initiation of a desire, fulfillment, and a positive resulting effect. In detail, wishes and needs are:

Any desire or craving that the person subjectively feels within him- or herself, whether this is material or immaterial, for change or preservation, already fulfilled or still unfulfilled, realistic or unrealistic, current or future, more or less urgent. The fulfillment of this desire causes a positive effect within the person. This positive effect can be related to the quality of life, satisfaction, self-image, autonomy, and any other aspect of the person’s life.

We excluded articles addressing people who were, on average, under 60 years old or people who did not live in a NH. We only included original empirical studies that had already been published in a journal in order to ensure, as far as possible, that only relevant and high-quality studies were considered. Accordingly, gray literature, conference proceedings, books, book chapters, reviews, and dissertations were rejected.

2.2. Searching for the Evidence

We explored relevant journal articles in 12 databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LIVIVO, Embase, Cochrane Library, GeroLit, SCOPUS, AgeLine, SowiPort, WiSo, and Psyndex) during August and September 2020. A search strategy was developed for each database. Table 1 . Search Terms contains the specific search terms in English and German.

Search Terms in English and German.

2.3. Selecting the Evidence

The article selection went through several phases. Three authors completed the database search separately, so each searched four databases. The studies identified by the database search were first screened by title and abstract by one author regarding relevance and fulfillment of the inclusion criteria. The remaining articles were sequentially screened for duplications and removed if necessary. In a final step, each article was screened for relevance and compliance with the inclusion criteria independently by two authors based on the full text. In case of discrepancies between the reviewers, the third author was consulted. Figure 1 . Search flowchart following PRISMA guidelines illustrates the details of the article search.

Search flowchart following PRISMA guidelines.

Of the 1356 articles initially discovered through the database search, 51 articles met the inclusion criteria.

2.4. Extracting the Evidence

The included articles underwent a structured data extraction by three authors capturing essential study information. These include author(s), year, title, journal (number and page), country, sampling strategy, sample characteristics, design and method, data analysis, and relevant results. The reviewer’s name, who performed the extraction, and the data extraction date were also recorded. For quantitative studies, the five most frequently identified wishes and needs were extracted in each case to ensure that the most relevant outcomes were included.

2.5. Analysis of the Evidence

After extraction, the relevant results (which relate to the research question and thus to the wishes and needs of the NH residents) were analyzed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke [ 15 ]. We developed a category system inductively on the 51 included studies following this approach. Three authors performed the thematic analysis and synthesis. Agreement between the authors led to final system revisions, checks for consistency, and the decision to group individual needs in their context and assignment to the top themes.

3.1. Characteristics of the Included Articles

The final analysis includes 51 articles consisting of 28 studies with a quantitative study design, 20 with a qualitative design, and three mixed-methods studies. Of the 28 quantitative studies, 26 were cross-sectional surveys and two were longitudinal. Questionnaires were used to collect data on 26 studies, one of which was a cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT). The Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly questionnaire (CANE) [ 16 ] was used for 10 studies, while four studies used the Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory-Nursing Home questionnaire (PELI-NH) [ 17 ]. Of the 20 studies with qualitative designs, 19 were cross-sectional surveys. Sixteen studies used interviews to generate data, one study used the focus group method, and three collected data in interviews and focus groups. All three mixed-methods studies had a cross-sectional design and used both questionnaires and open-ended questions. Thirty-five of the 51 studies assessed self-reported wishes and needs, while 12 interviewed both residents and others, including relatives and family members, caregivers, and nursing assistants. In contrast, four studies surveyed only proxies. Caregivers, volunteers, public guardians, relatives, family members, and non-nursing staff were interviewed. Table 2 . Study Summary illustrates the summary of each study.

Study Summary.

Note: all values have been rounded to the nearest whole number for consistency; M stands for mean; SD stands for standard deviation.

3.2. Wishes and Needs

As a first step, we present the results of 41 studies on wishes and needs of NH residents, excluding those that used the CANE questionnaire. Subsequently, we present the results of the remaining ten studies that collected data on wishes and needs with the CANE instrument. This separation seemed reasonable, as the CANE questionnaire is the only instrument that explicitly distinguishes between met and unmet needs. Therefore, the separate presentation and summary of the CANE studies provide a comprehensive overview of the results collected with this questionnaire. The wishes and needs found in the 41 studies presented first could be mapped to 12 themes. These are shown in detail in Table 3 .

Explicit description of the themes.

3.2.1. Activities, Leisure, and Daily Routine

The need to make the day active and momentous has been addressed in several studies [ 27 , 28 , 38 , 46 , 49 , 58 , 60 ]. Accordingly, wishes for meaningful, person-specific, enjoyable, social, and recreational activities were mentioned [ 27 , 28 , 38 , 46 , 60 ]. Residents like to practice their hobbies and consider activities on special occasions and events as important [ 27 , 38 ]. Various pursuits and leisure activities that residents like to do could be classified under this theme: Reading, listening to music, having contact with animals, keeping up with the news, spending time outside, doing activities outside the NH, playing games, partying, tea-time, gardening, helping others, doing crafts, and spending time with others [ 27 , 38 , 46 , 49 , 58 ]. In addition to the need for specific activities, a general wish for a varied life with diverse offerings and activities was also mentioned [ 60 , 62 ], in which residents can experience self-sufficiency [ 49 ].

3.2.2. Autonomy, Independence, Choice, and Control

Moving into an NH can result in a loss of autonomy and independence. Over half of the 41 studies [ 20 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 49 , 50 , 52 , 57 , 58 , 60 , 62 , 63 ] demonstrate that it is essential for residents to do things for themselves, to have a say in decisions, and to maintain their autonomy to the greatest extent possible. In various studies, NH residents described an experienced dependence and a wish to gain more autonomy and independence: “The stroke nurse who was to do the swallowing test never came. She was to sign me off for swallowing so that I could eat bread… You see I am very determined to be as independent as I can be? I would love to be able to walk to the toilet on my own” [ 52 ]. Residents reported a wish to make decisions for themselves or to be involved in the decision-making process and that this is central to their well-being and quality of life [ 60 , 62 ]. The need to have a say relates to both day-to-day issues and far-reaching decisions. For example, residents wish to have control over daily concerns such as deciding when to get up and go to bed [ 28 , 38 , 39 ], what clothes to wear [ 38 , 58 ], what and when they eat [ 28 , 39 , 49 , 63 ], how they spend their day [ 49 ], who they share a room with [ 39 ], and whether they participate in social activities [ 49 ]. Residents also want to make their own decisions on issues related to hygiene and care routines, including bathing and showering type, how often to bathe or shower, and oral hygiene [ 35 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 63 ]. Control over medical matters is highly important to many residents. For instance, residents would like to have a choice regarding how often and which physician they consult [ 35 , 39 ]. Residents are concerned about their future and would like to make advance directives and living wills. According to one study [ 67 ], over one-third of residents have a written advance directive, i.e., either an advance directive, or a living will, or a combination of different documents. Residents who already have an advance directive most often want their son or daughter, or a close relative, to act as surrogate decision makers should their own decision-making capacity cease [ 26 , 50 ]. In decisions concerning care, residents wish to determine who has a say for themselves. Some residents wish to make all decisions on their own, but many would also like family members and relatives to have a say, while still others would like staff or the attending physician to make final decisions and hand over responsibility to them [ 22 , 25 , 31 , 32 , 35 , 62 ].

To maintain a sense of freedom and independence, residents feel the need to regularly leave the NH on their own and independently [ 39 , 57 , 63 ]: “I tell a member of staff when I leave the NH. This is not a problem. Sometimes I am not back before midnight. I have a key. So, I can come and go whenever I want. That’s great. Because the staff do not have to give a key to the residents” [ 57 ]. Some residents want to move out of the NH or want to have control over their own discharge. This is partly based on the need to live in familiar surroundings again, but also on the wish for more self-determination and freedom [ 33 , 39 , 62 ].

3.2.3. Death, Dying, and End-of-Life

People often move into a NH at a late stage in life, when the issues of dying and death become increasingly important. Residents have different ideas about the end of their lives and dying in the home. NH residents wish not to become bedridden and in need of care in the last phase of life. Furthermore, they wish that their health condition does not deteriorate further allowing for a degree of mobility and activity. Despite impending death, residents want to continue to make plans and be content [ 40 , 41 ]. Contact with family members, friends, relatives, and other confidants, such as nursing staff, or the attending physician, plays an essential role in this phase of life [ 40 , 66 ]. The results show that residents are concerned about discussing the topics of dying and death with familiar people. Residents want to prepare for death and plan for the process of dying and the time after [ 57 ]. In addition to a general need to talk about the approaching death, residents are particularly concerned about symptom management, emotional, psychological, and spiritual support, possible counseling services, and funeral issues [ 27 ]. One study [ 32 ] found that there is often a lack of opportunities to discuss one’s values and needs regarding end-of-life treatment and care with the nursing staff. Resident reactions to such staff discussions vary greatly from unnecessary to a very strong need. Wishes for pain management and more personal and time-intensive care include maintaining personal hygiene and the requirement of additional medical care in the last phase of life [ 40 , 56 ]. There are also clear wishes and needs on the part of NH residents regarding the dying process. In this context, several studies shed light on the context in which people want to die, such as the place of dying, the condition in which they want to die, and the people they would like to have by their side when dying [ 26 , 41 , 50 , 66 , 67 ]. In most cases, residents would like to die in the NH and not be transferred to another facility, such as a hospital. [ 26 , 41 , 50 , 66 , 67 ]. However, needs for passing away at home, in hospice, or in a hospital are also cited [ 66 , 67 ]. Most residents in one study [ 66 ] reported wanting to pass away in their sleep (31%). Fewer residents would like to be unconscious or comatose during dying (7%) and a small percentage would like to experience the dying process while conscious (3%). The other residents were not clear at the time of the survey about the condition in which they would like to die or did not make any statement for other reasons.

The question of end-of-life care also seems to be essential for residents. For example, most residents wish to die in the presence of familiar people, such as relatives, friends, nursing staff, or hospice companions. “That I can cling somewhere,… to any hands…” [ 41 ]. Others would rather be alone when the time comes [ 22 , 41 ]. When dealing with dying people, physical closeness, human warmth, support, and respectful, open, and honest communication are of great importance [ 41 , 66 ]. Medical and nursing factors are also central. Residents do not want to suffer pain and thirst during the dying process and want to be able to breathe comfortably [ 22 , 40 , 41 , 56 , 66 ]. Many residents do not want to receive life-sustaining measures, including artificial nutrition, resuscitation, surgery, heart–lung machine, ventilator, or dialysis, during the dying phase [ 22 , 40 , 41 , 56 , 66 ]. However, others want to receive life-sustaining treatment in the event of a life-threatening condition [ 50 ]. Residents consider a natural and quick death, which they see as a release, important [ 22 , 49 ].

Spiritual factors also play an essential role when residents face death in a NH. Residents want to die quietly and peacefully, which means that they do not want to be a burden on anyone and want to die without much fuss. They wish for forgiveness and reconciliation, for their mistakes not to be of great relevance in retrospect, and for their loved ones to think back on them positively after their passing [ 41 ]. During the dying process, residents feel the need to maintain their dignity and self-respect and to leave the world laughing [ 66 ].

The wish to die or to actively end life has also been cited in studies [ 33 , 57 , 66 ]. Three of 18 residents interviewed in the Goodman et al. study [ 33 ] want their life to end. Van der Steen et al. [ 66 ] found that residents wish to have ways to end life if they feel it is necessary.

3.2.4. Economics

Four of the 41 studies [ 24 , 27 , 60 , 62 ] captured residents’ financial wishes and needs. All four studies found a desire for more money or financial support and financial security. Chuang et al. [ 27 ] also found that residents feel a need to be able to pay the monthly NH fee. If this cannot be accomplished, residents would be discharged or transferred to another NH with lower standards, which they try to avoid.

3.2.5. Environment, Structural Conditions, Meals, and Food

Studies reported facility-related needs and needs at the structural level, for example, concerning the room occupied [ 19 , 20 , 36 , 38 , 46 , 47 , 60 , 62 ]. Residents wish for a comfortable bed [ 19 ], larger [ 62 ] and temperature-controlled rooms [ 36 ], and the ability to personally furnish the rooms with their own furniture, objects, photos, a television, and a radio [ 46 , 60 ]. Further, needs were expressed for housing facilities that are designed for the elderly and disabled such as the presence of elevators [ 62 ]. Clean housing and sanitary facilities are also important to residents. Regarding these, the wish for improvement was mentioned [ 20 , 62 ]. It is also essential that residents can take care of their own belongings and have a way to lock and store smaller items safely [ 19 , 36 , 38 ]. Other needs related to facility structure include a wish to separate residents with dementia from those without dementia and a wish for more flexible routines. For example, residents would like more flexibility in the timing of taking pills [ 62 ]. Culinary care in the NH also plays an essential role for residents. According to Sonntag et al. [ 62 ], residents feel the need for better food that is age-appropriate and not so monotonous. In addition, residents want to decide what food they get, how much of it, and whether they eat according to a recommended diet. Some wish for more traditional food to be offered and to take meals at their leisure, without time stress, at set times of the day, and with patient and respectful assistance if necessary [ 47 ]. Housen et al. [ 38 ] reported that it is important for residents to have snacks available at their convenience in the NH.

3.2.6. Health Condition

An inability of older people living alone with deteriorating health and physical condition often requires a transition to NH. Thus, the issue of health is of high importance for these NH residents. Most common among this theme was the need to maintain and improve health or to prevent a decline in health [ 33 , 49 , 57 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. In this context, maintaining both cognitive and physical health status is of high importance. The abilities are seen as a prerequisite for enjoying the last years in the NH: “The few years I have left to live, I want to enjoy them. I can still walk, more or less, well around what you can call walking. You don’t need to put me in a chair yet, a wheelchair or one of them frames. Yeah, I do and wash myself and everything” [ 60 ]. As the worst imaginable scenario, residents describe their condition as a nursing case: “I have no expectations anymore. The principal thing is not to become a nursing case. I do not want to become an invalid like some of the other residents. I do not want to lose my mind. In this case, I would rather die” [ 57 ]. According to Schmidt et al. [ 61 ], residents wish to maintain their physical and sensory awareness.

Additionally, full and honest information about one’s health status is also noted to be essential. While three studies [ 20 , 26 , 60 ] reported that residents want to be fully informed about health status and, if applicable, fatal diagnoses, Gjerberg et al. [ 32 ] found that a small number of residents were unsure whether they might want to receive information of a severe nature or indicated that they did not want to receive information. This is due to fear of harmful consequences, “…that will just leave me thinking. And I would rather not”.

Wishes for mobility or physical activity [ 57 , 60 , 61 ], for physical comfort [ 63 ], and for restful sleep and sleep comfort [ 58 , 60 , 61 ] were also mentioned under the topic of health condition.

3.2.7. Medication, Care, Treatment, and Hygiene

Thirteen of the 41 studies [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 27 , 30 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 42 , 46 , 49 , 58 , 62 ] addressed needs related to the behaviors or characteristics of nursing staff or care received. For example, residents want to receive care that is good [ 37 , 58 ], humane [ 62 ], continuous [ 37 , 42 ], competent, skilled [ 27 , 62 ], affectionate [ 62 ], encouraging [ 42 ], and professional [ 19 ]. According to Bangerter et al. [ 19 ], professional care in this regard can be defined as friendly, kind, courteous, emphatic, respectful, and characterized by symmetrical communication. Further, residents want to be perceived as individuals, treated personally and with dignity, and taken seriously [ 30 , 37 , 62 ]. This includes addressing residents personally by name [ 19 ]. They wish staff would reliably take care of them and be concerned about them [ 18 , 27 , 33 , 35 ]. Residents feel the need to trust the nursing staff [ 20 ] and have a good relationship with them [ 33 ]. Sensitivity and motivation on the part of caregivers are necessary to form a trusting relationship possible according to residents [ 42 ]. This does not always seem to be guaranteed: “Not too many of them help too much when we’re not well-they don’t have feelings… They are tired-they have to lift me and I’m heavy. If they have a bad day or bad night, they lose the ability to be sensitive to our condition. Sometimes I feel that they take their frustrations out on us. They lack a little sensitivity” [ 42 ]. Residents wish they were not treated as if they were a nuisance, a problem case, or a child [ 46 , 49 ].

In addition to needs primarily related to nursing staff, residents also reported wishes and needs related to medical care and hygiene. According to different studies [ 42 , 58 , 61 ] personal hygiene is important to residents. This includes bathing and washing facilities [ 58 ], oral hygiene, and regular changing of linens [ 42 ]. In one qualitative study with 10 women and 10 men, some women reported a gender-specific need for personal care to be performed by a caregiver who is a woman herself [ 37 ]. High-quality medical care includes the use of proper equipment during treatments [ 20 ], good skin and wound treatment, expert pain management to prevent discomfort due to physical illness [ 61 ], and monitoring for adverse drug reactions [ 46 ]. Referring to the study by Michelson et al. [ 45 ], residents refuse aggressive medical treatment unless the intervention alleviates pain or results in greater patient comfort or safety. Nakrem et al. [ 49 ] and Sonntag et al. [ 62 ] found that residents hope to receive more active care in the NH, more therapeutic interventions, more physical therapy, and regular fall prevention by NH staff. To provide more quality of life in the NH, residents wish for more help and support with daily living activities [ 27 , 62 ]. Frustration is reported because this support is not provided by staff without being asked [ 42 ]. Residents reported care needs for eating and drinking, excreting, constipation, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, chronic illnesses (including asthma, arthritis, hypertension), and visual impairment [ 23 , 61 ]: “The constipation has given me piles in that my whole body is affected” [ 23 ].

In the study by Levy-Storms et al. [ 42 ], excessive cross-boundary support from nursing staff is sometimes reported: “Let me eat (feed myself) with a spoon, like normal people”. This is countered by the reports of residents who experience a lack of individualized and skilled care and attention from NH staff. This is seen as a problem of limited staff capacity, which is why the wish for more staff was mentioned to make the above-mentioned needs and wishes feasible [ 62 ].

3.2.8. Peer Relationship, Company, and Social Contact

Contact with other people is a central need for many NH residents. While a good and trusting relationship with the nursing staff has already been presented as the basis for humane and personal care, residents name social contacts and friendships as significant for a satisfying life in the NH. Residents described needs for sociability and conversation in their lives [ 30 , 62 ], for human connection [ 52 ], for belonging [ 30 ], for a good and personal atmosphere in the home [ 60 ], for harmony [ 23 ], and for meaningful relationships [ 55 ].

Relationships with other NH residents are highly relevant, as these play a significant role in determining the daily environment. Residents actively choose their contacts in the NH, talking about their experiences in the home, their past lives, and their families. They spend time together and do things together: “I am in touch with Anna. She lives down the corridor. She is lucid, and we can talk. She comes to visit me, and then we talk… and if she gets some sweets, she comes to me [to share] and if I get something she appreciates from my family, then I share it with her” [ 21 ]. Residents reported a wish for all residents to live better together [ 62 ] and a desire for personal and social relationships with other residents [ 21 , 27 , 28 , 49 , 60 ].

In addition to the need for in-home relationships with peer residents, the wish for good relationships with family members, relatives, and friends outside the home was also frequently mentioned. For example, residents would like to maintain family and friendship ties [ 21 , 27 , 28 , 52 , 60 , 63 ] and spend more time with and are regularly visited by their loved ones [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 30 , 35 , 62 ].

Residents also wish to maintain contact with their former social environment and the community they lived in before moving. Residents do not want to lose connection to their former lives and the world outside the NH [ 28 , 49 , 52 , 63 ]: “I like getting out to the town, you know. I just like to see if there is any building going on or what’s happening in the town” [ 52 ]. Residents indicate they want to maintain their past relationships and ties because they are identity-building [ 52 ]. Ways to maintain a connection to the outside world include: watching television, listening to the radio, reading the newspaper, or sitting at the front door to watch people come and go [ 63 ].

3.2.9. Privacy

As important as human contact is, a certain degree of privacy is likewise important. This was shown by seven studies [ 19 , 20 , 27 , 28 , 33 , 38 , 60 ]. Residents desire privacy when using the restroom and performing personal hygiene [ 19 , 60 ]. The wish for privacy further includes the need for a private space [ 60 ], which residents understand to mean, for example, occupying a single room [ 28 ], but also being able to receive visits or make telephone calls in a private setting [ 38 ].

Quietness in the NH is also crucial to residents’ privacy. They wish to rest undisturbed [ 33 ] and that they are not disturbed by loud noises [ 60 ].

Residents who inevitably interact with others due to the institutional setting want to spend time alone [ 60 ] and consider it important for social and psychological privacy that nursing staff knocks upon entering the room [ 28 ]. Cooney et al. [ 28 ] found that residents of large facilities particularly complained about a lack of privacy. In some cases, beds are separated only by curtains, which ensures a very low level of quiet and privacy: “You only have a curtain separating you” [ 28 ].

3.2.10. Psychological and Emotional Aspects, Security, and Safety

Many of the wishes and needs of residents are also in the psychological, emotional, and safety domains. Inner-personal and psycho-emotional needs, for example, were named in the study by O’Neill et al. [ 52 ]. Residents wish to have a positive attitude and maintain their own identity, self-efficacy, resilience, and coping strategies. They would like to take each day as it comes and not worry too much about tomorrow. According to Franklin et al. [ 30 ] and Schmidt et al. [ 61 ], residents want to experience a daily routine, to be able to enjoy the little things in everyday life, and to find a sense of meaning in the NH’s daily routine to experience themselves as part of the environment. It seems essential for residents to have a sense of belonging, to feel understood, and to have a sense of community [ 60 ]. Other studies report similar findings [ 28 , 61 , 63 ]: residents want to be themselves, not lose a sense of self, and be recognized as independent individuals. To ensure this, residents are concerned about their appearance among others. One qualitative study showed that some women want to take care of their appearance. They state that this has a positive effect on their self-expression and self-esteem [ 28 ].

Further, having options to do what they want when they are miserable is essential [ 18 , 36 ]. Fundamental to residents is that they feel needed, valued, and welcomed [ 27 ]. Schmidt et al. [ 61 ] also found that expressing emotions, expressing one’s will, being talked to and touched, as well as touching others are important for residents’ emotional and psychological well-being. NH residents wish for social and emotional support in the home [ 46 ] and psychological support for depression, confidence loss, memory loss, anxiety, anger, and irritability [ 23 ].

A sense of security is also important to residents. They wish to be safe and secure in the NH [ 49 , 60 , 61 ]. This includes knowing that the home has safety and security measures installed and that residents always have quick access to emergency services [ 20 , 49 ]. Being protected from self-harm and from disturbance by other residents is also part of living safely in an NH [ 46 ].

3.2.11. Religion and Spirituality

Religiosity and spirituality play an important role for many residents. For example, they wish to participate in religious ceremonies [ 27 , 38 , 43 , 58 , 61 ]. They want to express themselves religiously in their lives, follow cultural customs, and feel spiritually connected to others [ 27 , 38 , 61 , 63 ]: “I can’t go to the Sunday ceremony, but I read the Bible by myself… You will feel consoled after you read it” [ 27 ]. Specific activities that residents undertake to meet their religious and spiritual needs are cited by Man-Ging et al. [ 43 ]: praying for themselves, reflecting on past lives, turning to a higher presence, and plunging into the beauty of nature.

3.2.12. Sexuality

One study [ 48 ] addressed the sexual needs of NH residents. More than half (51%) of the residents surveyed reported a sexual tension, including more men (65%) than women (41%). In addition, residents reported the following as their most important sexual needs: need for conversation, need for respect, need for tenderness, need for support in any situation, and need for giving and receiving emotional support, by which residents primarily mean empathy and understanding.

3.2.13. CANE Studies

The ten studies that used the CANE questionnaire for data collection are presented separately. The CANE questionnaire covers 25 areas of daily life in the NH to assess older people’s physical, psychological, social, and environmental needs. A distinction is made between met and unmet needs. Table 4 shows the outcomes of CANE studies and gives an overview of the five most frequently mentioned needs in each of these ten studies. Eight studies reported both unmet and met needs [ 29 , 34 , 44 , 51 , 54 , 59 , 64 , 68 ]. One study reported only unmet needs [ 53 ], and the study by van der Ploeg et al. [ 65 ] reported the sum of met and unmet needs differentiated between residents with dementia, residents without dementia, and relatives. Looking at the results without including the study by van der Ploeg et al. [ 65 ], the five most frequently mentioned met needs are in the areas of food, household skills, physical health, accommodation, and self-care. In comparison, the five most frequently unmet needs are in the areas of daytime activities, psychological distress, company, eyesight/hearing, and memory. Some of the five most frequently identified needs that residents have according to CANE studies were also highlighted by the analysis of the 41 other studies. These include the following needs in the area of unmet needs: daytime activities, psychological distress, and company. The met needs, which have also been addressed by the other studies, are as follows: food, physical health, and accommodation. Additional needs identified through the CANE studies that have not been mentioned in the previous analysis are household skills and self-care in the area of met needs and memory and eyesight/hearing related to unmet needs.

Outcomes CANE studies.

4. Discussion

The objective of this scoping review was to identify the wishes and needs of NH residents. The results show numerous needs that were mapped to 12 themes. In 35 studies, residents were interviewed; in 12 studies, residents and proxies were interviewed; and only proxies were interviewed in four studies. This shows that residents can be aware of perceived needs and wishes and can communicate them. This is valid not only for residents without cognitive impairment [ 69 ], but also for residents with dementia [ 11 ]. Studies show that third-party assessments of needs sometimes differ from what NH residents report [ 20 , 35 , 44 , 46 , 54 , 65 ]. This finding is especially important for residents with dementia, as needs elicitation for these individuals is often only collected through a proxy survey [ 11 ]. It is essential to directly survey NH residents, including residents with dementia, about their wishes and needs. Interviewing proxies can provide additional and helpful information, but is not a substitute for speaking directly with the affected resident.

The scoping review results further indicate that wishes and needs on specific topics differ between individual residents. For example, some would like to receive life-sustaining measures, while others reject them. This high degree of individuality and complexity must be considered in assessing needs. The wishes and needs should be recorded with the individual residents in private conversations, reflected on repeatedly, and the way they are dealt with should be adjusted if necessary. This requires time, expertise, and willingness. Often, there is a lack of human resources to ensure this task is completed. Complaints about a shortage of skilled workers and high workloads in NHs are frequent. [ 70 , 71 ]. These circumstances can lead to less quality in care and can make it difficult to have an individualized approach to residents [ 72 ]. Assessment tools, such as the PELI-NH or CANE questionnaire, can be helpful in conducting a comprehensive needs assessment. Such tools can provide clues to existing needs and wishes and present an overview. The CANE questionnaire, for example, does not address all the areas in which NH residents experience needs. Topics that are relevant for residents according to the present study, such as death/dying, autonomy, interaction of nursing staff with residents, and religion/spirituality, are not surveyed by this instrument. When caregivers or other persons refer to the CANE questionnaire in order to assess needs, they should be aware of this. Accordingly, in-depth and recurring interviews with residents are indispensable to consider the high complexity and individuality of wishes and needs. Only in this way can the results be validated and unmet needs can be discovered.

Themes of high relevance seem to be the following, as they were mentioned frequently and in multiple studies: “autonomy, independence, choice, and control”, “death, dying, and end-of-life”, and “medication, care, treatment, and hygiene”. Notably, needs cannot be categorized in a blanket way in which some needs are of higher importance than others. For example, needs in the nursing area may weigh the heaviest for some residents, while others consider the needs for autonomy and self-determination to be most important.

Older adults are aware of their wishes and needs, but in many cases they do not communicate them [ 73 ]. Sometimes, when asked about their wishes and needs, residents report that they do not wish for anything because nothing would change anyway. The reason for this seems to be an experienced lack of respect for their wishes. For residents who have the feeling that their personal and subjective wishes and needs are not heard and that addressing them does not lead to any change, communicating their needs does not make sense [ 62 , 69 ]. As another reason for non-communication, older adults in home care state that they do not want to be a burden to anyone, and they do not want to complain about the age-related ailments that are common for them [ 73 ]. In these situations, caregivers should treat residents with appreciation and respect. It is important to schedule sufficient time to talk about wishes and needs. It is also important to take residents seriously and show them that expressing their wishes and needs will lead to positive changes in their lives by addressing them. The patronizing communication that often occurs on the part of NH staff may also contribute to NH residents not always openly communicating their wishes and needs, as satisfaction with such interactions can be low [ 74 ]. Further, the use of elderspeak due to stereotypical expectations of NH residents’ communication skills can lead to residents not feeling understood or respected and, as a result, they tend to be quiet and accept things without argument [ 75 , 76 ]. As a result, non-communicated needs go unrecognized and, accordingly, unmet. Communication training or person-centered interventions for caregivers could contribute to improved caregiver–patient communication, which could lead to more openness on the part of the residents and, consequently, fewer unmet residents’ needs [ 77 , 78 ].

Shared decision making was a frequently mentioned need. However, sometimes less is more. The study by Reed et al. [ 79 ] shows that older people prefer to have fewer options from which to choose than younger people. This suggests that some NH residents may be overwhelmed by too many options. NH staff should individually ask residents whether they prefer to choose from reduced options in some areas of their lives.

The present study has some limitations. First, it must be said that the concepts of “wishes” and “needs” are very complex, and there is no common definition [ 80 ]. This can lead to the fact that all researchers involved understand something different by the concept under investigation. A definition was created and applied throughout to prevent this from happening and to ensure consistent study inclusion, data extraction, and analysis. Further, the 51 included studies are diverse in research design, study population, and objectives. For example, there are studies that surveyed residents as well as studies that surveyed proxies. Some studies focused on residents with dementia, while others focused on residents without cognitive impairment, or on unbefriended residents. The research focus was not primarily on wishes and needs in all studies. Constructs such as quality of life, dignity, or thriving were sometimes of substantial research interest. However, relevant wishes and needs were mentioned in the survey on these constructs, which were analyzed here. In the analysis of the quantitative studies, only the five most frequently mentioned wishes and needs were recorded in each case. The disadvantage here is that some wishes and needs were not recorded as a result. As qualitative studies do not include frequencies and therefore no ranking, all needs and wishes were extracted in these, which can lead to an overweighting of the qualitatively surveyed wishes and needs. Further, only studies in English and German were included. This can be explained by the language skills of the researchers but presents the possibility that relevant studies were not included. Consequently, the results only represent an overview of possible wishes and needs as stated by residents or their proxies. In no way do the results claim to be exhaustive of all wishes and needs of NH residents.

Among this study’s strengths is a very extensive literature search of 12 databases that was conducted. Additionally, the evidence examined is extensive, with 51 studies, as demonstrated by the high richness of results.

5. Conclusions

Twelve topics were identified to which the wishes and needs of NH residents can be assigned. This reflects the high complexity and diversity of the needs and wishes of the heterogeneous group of NH residents.

For many NH residents, the NH represents the last phase of life before death. Residents should live a contented and fulfilling life in the home. Essential to achieving satisfaction is the fulfillment of individual wishes and needs. A comprehensive needs assessment on resident wishes and needs should take place in NHs. Speaking directly with the residents is essential to success.

The results of this study provide an evidence-based framework that can serve as a basis for holistic and person-centered care in NHs.

Funding Statement

This research received no external funding.

Author Contributions

R.S. contributed to the design, evidence search, data extraction, data analysis, and drafted the manuscript. J.L.O. contributed to the design, evidence search, data extraction, data analysis, and revised the manuscript. M.K. contributed to the design, evidence search, data extraction, data analysis, and revised the manuscript. S.N. initiated the study, contributed to the design, and revised the manuscript. A.T. initiated the study, contributed to the design, and revised the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Nursing Home essays

Abuse and neglect in nursing homes, physical abuse of elders, discussion board post: adult health nursing, the american association of nurse assessment coordination, capstone project topic selection, clinical care and management of pressure ulcers, diet and physical activity to improve the outcomes in the nursing home, senior services of southeastern virginia.

• AACN Synergy Model
• Advanced Practice Nurse (ADN)
• American Nurses’ Association (ANA)
• Communication

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

Nurses Deserve Better. So Do Their Patients.

By Linda H. Aiken

Dr. Aiken is a professor of nursing and sociology and the founding director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed strengths in the nation’s health care system — one of the greatest being our awesome nurses. But it also exposed many weaknesses, foremost among them being chronic nurse understaffing in hospitals , nursing homes and schools .

More nurses died of job-related Covid than any other type of health care worker. The more than 1,140 U.S. nurses who lost their lives in the first year of the pandemic knew the risks to themselves and their families. And yet they stayed in harm’s way. They cared for their fallen co-workers. They went to New York from around the country to fight on the front lines in the first Covid surge. Nurses from Northwell Health in New York returned that support by deploying to the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit in December when a surge occurred there.

We celebrate nurses now. We call them heroes. But if we value their sacrifices and want them to be there when we need them, we must prevent a return to the poor prepandemic working conditions that led to high nurse burnout and turnover rates even before Covid.

As a nurse with extensive clinical experience in hospitals, I found it nearly impossible to guarantee safe, effective and humane care to my patients. And so I established the world’s leading research center on nursing outcomes to understand the causes of nurse understaffing in the United States and abroad and to find solutions to the problem.

The United States has a robust supply of nurses . And there is no evidence that recruits to nursing have been deterred by Covid. To the contrary, applications to nursing schools increased during the pandemic.

Death, Through a Nurse’s Eyes

A short film offering a firsthand perspective of the brutality of the pandemic inside a covid-19 i.c.u..

I was looking through the window of a Covid I.C.U. And that’s when I realized I might see someone die. I didn’t even know who she was. But I was filled with immense grief as she edged closer to death by the hour. What I didn’t know yet was that by the time I left just two days later, at least three patients would be dead. The vaccine offers hope, but the sad truth is that the virus continues its brutal slaughter in I.C.U.s like this one in Phoenix, Ariz. The only people allowed in are health care workers. They’re overworked and underpaid in a deluged hospital. I wanted to know what it is like for them now, after a year of witnessing so much death. Eager to show us their daily reality, two nurses wore cameras so that for the first time we could see the I.C.U. through their eyes. “Unless you’re actually in there, you have no idea. Nobody can ever even imagine what goes on in there.” [MUSIC PLAYING] This I.C.U. contains 11 of the hospital’s sickest Covid patients. Most of them are in their 40s and 50s. And they are all on death’s door. It’s an incredibly depressing place. I blurred the patients faces to protect their privacy. But I also worried that blurring would rob them of their humanity. The family of this patient, the one who is rapidly declining, allowed her face to be shown. And they readily told me about her. Her name is Ana Maria Aragon. She’s a school administrator and a 65-year-old grandmother. Sara Reynolds, the nurse in charge of this I.C.U., organized a video call with Ana’s family to give them a chance to be with her just in case she didn’t make it. “It just breaks my heart when I hear families saying goodbye.” You might expect the doctors to be running the show. But it is really the nurses who are providing the vast majority of the care. “We do everything. We give them baths every night.” “Rubbing lotion on their feet.” “Shave the guys’ faces.” “Cleaning somebody up that had a bowel movement. It doesn’t even register as something gross.” “Look, I walk into the room. I say, hey, sounds like you have Covid. And I might order a chest X-ray. I might order blood work. I might order catheters. All that stuff is done by the nurse. I may have spent 10 minutes. The nurse might spend seven or eight hours actually in the room, caring for them. Let’s say there was a day that nurses didn’t come to the hospital. It’s like, why are you even opening?” “Ibuprofen.” 12-hour-plus shifts, isolated in this windowless room, these nurses survive by taking care of each other. “Aww, thank you.” And by finding small doses of levity. [MUSIC - JAMES BAY, “LET IT GO”] “(SINGING) Wrong. Breeze.” “I’m getting older now, and there’s all these new young nurses coming out. And I feel like a mom to all of them. Morgan, she’s got big aspirations. She loves to snowboard, and she’s so smart. And Deb, Deb’s just— she’s funny.” “I tease her all the time. I can tell her to do anything, and she’ll just do it because I think she’s scared of me because I just always say, make sure you have no wrinkles in those sheets.” The patients spend most of their time on their stomachs because it makes it easier to breathe. But the nurses have to turn them often to prevent pressure sores. There was one woman in her 50s who was so critical that this simple procedure risked killing her. “Even just turning them on their side, their blood pressure will drop. Their oxygen levels will drop.” “Her heart had actually stopped the day before. And so the concern was if it was going to make her heart stop again.” “Then come over. Push.” “We were all watching the monitors.” “I felt relieved like, whew, we did it.” Arizona’s a notoriously anti-mask state. And it faced a huge post-holiday surge in Covid cases. In January, the month I was there, Arizona had the highest rate of Covid in the world. As a result, I.C.U.s like this one have too many patients and not enough nurses. “Because they’re so critical, they need continuous monitoring, sometimes just one nurse to one patient with normally what we have is two patients to one nurse. But there definitely are times when we’re super stretched and have to have a three-to-one assignment.” A nurse shortage has plagued hospitals over the past year. To help, traveler nurses have had to fly into hotspots. Others have been forced out of retirement. Especially strained are poorer hospitals like Valleywise, which serves a low-income, predominantly Latino community. “Many of our patients are uninsured. Some of them have Medicaid, which pays something but unfortunately not enough.” This means they simply can’t compete with wealthier hospitals for nurses. “There is a bidding war. The average nurse here, give or take, makes about $35 an hour. Other hospitals, a short mile or two away, might pay them $100.” “We lost a lot of staff because they took the travel contracts. How can you blame them? It’s sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a lot of money.” “Every single day I’m off, I get a call or a text. ‘Hey, we desperately need help. We need nurses. Can you come in?’” This nursing shortage isn’t just about numbers. “Physically it’s exhausting. We’re just running. We don’t have time to eat or drink or use the restroom.” “They have kids at home, doing online school. And I think, gosh, they haven’t even been able to check on their kids to see how they’re doing.” “My days off, I spend sleeping half the day because you’re exhausted. And eating because we don’t get to eat here often.” Nurses have been proud to be ranked the most trusted profession in America for nearly two decades. But during Covid, many worry they aren’t able to uphold the standards that earned them such respect. “I can’t give the quality of care that I normally would give.” “It’s absolutely dangerous.” “That’s demoralizing because we care. We’re nurses. It’s our DNA.” Ana had been in the hospital for over a month. Her family told me she was born in Mexico. She came to the States 34 years ago, first working in the fields before eventually landing her dream job in education. She’s beloved at her school. Former students often stop her in town and excitedly shout, Miss Anita. She was very cautious about Covid. She demanded her family always wear a mask and yelled at them to stay home. Yet, tragically, she somehow still caught it. “She had been declining over the course of several days. It’s a picture we have seen far too often that we know, this one is going to be coming soon.” Because there is no cure for Covid, the staff can only do so much. Once all the ventilator settings and the medications are maxed out, keeping a patient alive will only do more harm than good. So Ana’s family was forced to make a tough decision. “And I talked to family and let them know that we have offered her, we have given, we have done everything that we can, there’s nothing more that we can do. The family made the decision to move to comfort care.” “If I’m there while someone’s passing, I always hold their hand. I don’t want somebody to die alone. That’s something that brings me peace.” “Thank you.” “Thank you.” “Dance floor is packed. People hugging, holding hands, and almost no one wearing a face mask.” “I think like many health care workers, I’m angry a lot. And my faith in humanity has dwindled.” “How can you think this isn’t a real thing? How can you think that it’s not a big deal?” “Free your face. Free your face.” Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has advocated for personal responsibility over mask mandates even though he’s been photographed maskless at a gathering and his son posted a video of a crowded dance party. “Even on the outside, they go, I don’t care. I’m not wearing a mask. I’m not getting the vaccine. That’s bullshit. The second they come into the hospital, they want to be saved. Never do they say, ‘I made the decision. I’m accepting this. Don’t do anything, doctor.’” Half a million people in this country have died from Covid. Many have been in I.C.U.s with nurses, not family members holding patients’ hands. “I always wonder, are they still going to be there when I get to work? It’s on my mind when I get home. Are they going to make it through the night? There’s one that I can think of right now.” One patient in his late 50s was so critical that he required constant supervision. Each of his breaths looked painful. “There was one day that he was kind of— he was looking a little bit better. And so he was able to shake his head and smile. And we set up a video call for him. And it was just the sweetest thing ever. I could hear his little grandson— he was probably 4 years old or so. And I saw him on the screen, too. And he was just jumping up and down, so excited. ‘You’re doing it, Grandpa. You’re doing it. We love you. Look at you. You’re getting better.’ It just broke my heart. It broke my heart. He’s one that I don’t think is going to be there when I get back on Sunday.” But I’d already been told something Sara hadn’t. The patient’s family had decided to take him off life support. “Yesterday they did? Oh. And I just think of his little grandson. And ‘you’re doing it, Grandpa. You’re doing it.’” He wasn’t the only patient who didn’t make it. When I went back to the hospital, I noticed that the bed of the patient I’d seen get flipped over was empty. My heart sank. I knew this meant she’d passed away. “What’s sad is when I go back, those beds will be full. They’ll have somebody else there just as sick with another long stretch of a few weeks ahead of them before it’s time for their family to make that decision.” I’d never before seen someone die. And even though I didn’t know these people, witnessing their deaths left me sleepless, exhausted, and depressed. It’s unfathomable to me that these nurses have gone through that every single week, sometimes every single day for an entire year. I assumed the nurses must block out all the deaths to be able to keep going, but they don’t. They grieve every single one. “I’ve always loved being a nurse. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. And these last couple months, it’s definitely made me question my career choice.” And what makes their situation so tragic is that many of these nurses hide their trauma, leaving them feeling isolated and alone. “We’re the only ones that know what we’re going through. I don’t really want to tell my family about everything because I don’t want them to feel the same emotions that I feel. I don’t want them to know that I carry that burden when it— that it is a lot. I’m Mom. I’m strong. I can do anything. And I don’t want them to see that.” Leadership in the pandemic hasn’t come from elected officials or spiritual guides but from a group that is underpaid, overworked and considered secondary, even in their own workplaces. As so many others have dropped the ball, nurses have worked tirelessly out of the spotlight to save lives, often showing more concern for their patients than for themselves. I worry their trauma will persist long after we re-emerge from hibernation. Covid’s legacy will include a mass PTSD on a scale not felt since World War II. This burden should not be ignored. “Thank you. Thank you. I feel, yeah. And you’re all amazing.” [MUSIC PLAYING]

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

• Editorials by The Record

NJ is still failing nursing home residents. Accountability and transparency are essential

3-minute read.

Just last year, the for-profit nursing home Princeton Care Center’s  abrupt and chaotic 24-hour shutdown  disrupted, displaced, and, in some cases, traumatized the lives of 72 nursing home residents and their families. Despite the closure being  months in the making , residents were given only hours to find a new home, with their belongings packed in garbage bags. The care being provided to these residents was so poor that weeks earlier, the New Jersey Department of Health had  suspended new admissions  to the facility. State regulators and local and state officials knew this taxpayer-funded facility was in financial and medical trouble. Yet, residents were unaware of the situation or why it was closing. 

This incident highlights why — despite millions of new state and federal taxpayer dollars being invested in New Jersey’s nursing homes since 2019 — a full, clear, and constant view into their workings is essential. Without transparency and accountability, more families may suffer through similar situations in other nursing homes. This past budget season New Jersey's legislature had an opportunity to include budget language that would enforce improved transparency and accountability tied to an increase in funding for nursing homes. Instead, nursing homes received an additional, last-minute $60 million appropriation — above and beyond what Gov. Phil Murphy proposed for this year — with no strings attached. 

After the tragic deaths of over 9,000 long-term care residents during the COVID crisis, individuals living in nursing homes and their families deserve an independent audit  of where our current dollars are going, what they are being spent on, and whether their money is improving the safety and quality of care of these centers.  

Business as usual simply will not do. Unfortunately, business as usual is what New Jersey keeps delivering. Nursing homes are primarily funded through Medicaid, and today, they receive more than $2 billion from taxpayers. In the final days and hours of last year’s state budget negotiations, a back-room deal quadrupled the proposed increase to the taxpayer-funded Medicaid reimbursement rate — a $120 million windfall. This increase was over and above basic Medicaid rates for nursing homes and is now embedded in their rates for the new fiscal year — along with the additional $60 million. 

Most concerning is there is no requirement to use these taxpayer dollars to improve quality care like infection control, to improve the wages and working conditions for direct care staff despite nursing homes being chronically understaffed, or to provide any information to consumers, policymakers, and regulators on how the additional money would be spent. Once again, this year’s  state budget fails to require improved transparency on how our tax dollars are spent, information that is also very important to the residents and their families who call a nursing home home. Greater transparency would reveal where our dollars are flowing. For example, how much is being spent on residents’ direct care needs and personal care plans? How much is being spent on direct care staff salaries instead of nursing home profits? This vital information will help hold nursing homes accountable for how they are using taxpayer dollars and how they are providing care. Legislation  was re-introduced this year to revise reporting requirements for nursing homes’ financial disclosures and ownership structure. Rather than more back-room deals directing millions more of taxpayer dollars to an industry where stronger accountability and transparency are needed, the governor and Legislature should continue to work together to enact this bill to ensure that the billions in funding that nursing homes receive from New Jersey taxpayers go towards improving the quality of care for residents.

Katie Squires isassociate state director of advocacy for AARP New Jersey .

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

• Your Health
• Treatments & Tests
• Health Inc.
• Public Health

Shots - Health News

Staff and residents are ‘scared to death’ of violent patients at dementia care homes.

Casey Shively holds a photo of a family ski trip with his sister, Katie, and his father, Dan, in 1996. Dan Shively died in a memory care home after being violently attacked by another resident. Jessica Plance; skiing photo by Crystal Images Photography/KFF Health News hide caption

Dan Shively had been a bank president who built floats for July Fourth parades in Cody, Wyo., and adored fly-fishing with his sons. Jeffrey Dowd had been an auto mechanic who ran a dog rescue and hosted a Sunday blues radio show in Santa Fe.

By the time their lives intersected at Canyon Creek Memory Care Community in Billings, Mont., both were deep in the grips of dementia and exhibiting some of the disease’s terrible traits.

Shively had been wandering lost in his neighborhood, having outbursts at home, and leaving the gas stove on. Dowd previously had been hospitalized for being confused, suicidal, and agitated, medical records filed in U.S. District Court in Billings show. When Dowd entered Canyon Creek, managers warned employees in a note later filed in court that he could be “physically/verbally abusive when frustrated.”

On Shively’s fourth day at Canyon Creek, carrying a knife and fork, he walked over to a dining room table where Dowd was sitting. Dowd told Shively to keep the knife away from his coffee, according to a witness statement filed in court. Shively, who at 5-foot-2 and 125 pounds was half Dowd’s weight and 10 inches shorter, turned to walk away, but Dowd stood up and shoved Shively so hard that when he hit the floor, his skull fractured and brain hemorrhaged, according to a lawsuit his family filed against Canyon Creek.

As some families learn the hard way, dementia can take a toll on financial health

“The doctor said there’s not much they could do about it,” his son Casey Shively said in an interview.

Dan Shively died five days later at age 73.

Police did not charge Dowd, then 66. He stayed at Canyon Creek for nearly three more years, during which time he repeatedly clashed with residents, sometimes hitting male residents and groping female ones, according to facility records filed in the court case. His anger would flare quickly. “I’m literally scared to death of Jeff,” one nurse wrote in a filed statement describing Dowd’s dispute with another resident.

In court, Canyon Creek denied liability for Shively’s death. Its privately held corporate owner, Koelsch Communities, declined to answer questions from KFF Health News. Chase Salyers, Koelsch’s director of marketing, said in an email to KFF Health News that the company prioritizes “the health, well-being, safety, and security of our residents.”

Dowd’s relatives said in a statement via text they would not comment because they had no firsthand knowledge. “We were very pleased with the care Jeffrey received at Canyon Creek,” they added. Dowd was not named in the lawsuit and his current whereabouts could not be determined.

Violent altercations between residents in long-term care facilities are alarmingly common. Across the country, residents in nursing homes or assisted living centers have been killed by other residents who weaponized a bedrail , shoved pillow stuffing into a person’s mouth, or removed an oxygen mask .

A protein called Reelin keeps popping up in brains that resist aging and Alzheimer’s

A recent study in JAMA Network Open of 14 New York assisted living homes found that, within one month, 15% of residents experienced verbal, physical, or sexual resident-on-resident aggression. Another study found nearly 8% of assisted living residents engaged in physical aggression or abuse toward residents or staff members within one month. Dementia residents are especially likely to be involved in altercations because the disease damages the parts of the brain affecting memory, language, reasoning, and social behavior.

More than 900,000 people with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia reside in nursing homes and assisted living centers. Many of the most seriously impaired live in the roughly 5,000 facilities with locked dementia floors or wings or the 3,300 homes devoted exclusively to memory care. These places are mostly for-profit and often charge thousands of dollars extra a month, promising expertise in the disease and a safe environment.

Casey Shively says that as his father’s dementia worsened, it became harder for the family to take care of him at home. “He would start walking the neighborhood and get lost,” Shively says. “He would turn on the gas stove but not light the stove and the room would start filling up with gas. He would put clothing in strange places. I found socks in a punch bowl. It got to the point where we couldn’t do this anymore.” Jessica Plance /KFF Health News hide caption

Clashes can be spontaneous and too unpredictable to prevent. But the chance of an altercation increases when memory care homes admit and retain residents they can’t manage, according to a KFF Health News examination of inspection and court records and interviews with researchers. Homes that have too few staffers or nonexistent or perfunctory training for employees have a harder time heading off resident conflicts. Homes also may fail to properly assess incoming residents or may keep them despite demonstrated threats to others.

“As much as long-term care providers in general do their best to provide competent, high-quality care, there is a real problem with endemic violence,” said Karl Pillemer, a gerontologist at Cornell University and lead author of the JAMA study.

“There needs to be much more of an effort to single out verbal and physical aggression that occurs in long-term care,” he said, “and begin to create a model of violence-free zones in the same way we have violence-free zones in the schools.”

In Montana, 911 calls reveal hidden impact of heat waves on rural seniors

A danger to others.

The first signs of Shively’s vascular dementia emerged in 2011 as confusion, but the disease accelerated in 2016, according to interviews with his wife and children and his medical records. He began referring to mountains he knew well by the wrong name and forgot how to tie flies on his fishing line. “The decline was so slow at first we thought we could manage,” his wife, Tana Shively, said in an interview before her death this year.

As the disease progressed, his outbursts became hard to handle. He took a swing at one of his sons when upset about the temperature in the house. He refused to swallow his medications and fell repeatedly.

“He would start walking the neighborhood and get lost,” Casey said. “He would turn on the gas stove but not light the stove, and the room would start filling up with gas. He would put clothing in strange places. I found socks in a punch bowl. It got to the point where we couldn’t do this anymore.”

Dowd, meanwhile, had lived in a Santa Fe nursing home and had a long history of dementia with behavioral issues, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, and hypertension, according to medical records filed in court. Dowd entered Canyon Creek in October 2018 to be closer to his brother, who lived nearby in Wyoming, according to an admission notice the facility provided to employees that was included in the court record. The notice said Dowd suffered from dementia caused by excessive and long-term alcohol use .

Two months later, Shively moved in.

Montana licenses Canyon Creek, which has 67 beds, as a Level C assisted living facility, which permits it to house people with cognitive impairments so severe that they cannot express their needs or make basic care decisions. Montana law says these facilities cannot admit or retain a resident who is “a danger to self or others.”

In the lawsuit, Shively’s family argued that given that law, Canyon Creek never should have accepted or kept Dowd. The Shively family’s lawyer, Torger Oaas, noted in court papers that Canyon Creek’s intake assessment form for Dowd categorized his behavior as “physically and/or verbally abusive/aggressive 1x per month.” Oaas also wrote in court papers that in Dowd’s first weeks at Canyon Creek, he mocked and threatened to hit other residents and threw someone’s silverware to the ground during dinner.

In its defense filings in the lawsuit, Canyon Creek said the Montana statute was too broad to be the basis of a negligence claim and argued that all memory care residents are unpredictable. And while Dowd had yelled and cursed at other residents at Canyon Creek, he hadn’t had physical confrontations — or any conflicts with Shively, Canyon Creek said. “The accident was not reasonably foreseeable,” Canyon Creek argued.

In the days after Shively’s fall, nurses noted that Dowd was “more anxious, angry toward others.” Dowd yelled at a nurse to get off the phone and “do your job,” a nurse wrote in a logbook entry filed in court.

“He got into my face,” the nurse wrote. “It looked like he was going to hit me — he had his hand/fist raised.”

Canyon Creek Memory Care Community in Billings, Mont., where Dan Shively died, is licensed as a Level C assisted living facility. Level C facilities are permitted to house people with cognitive impairments so severe that they cannot express their needs or make basic care decisions. Jessica Plance for KFF Health News hide caption

"As bad as I’ve ever seen it"

People with dementia will lash out because they no longer have social inhibitions or because it’s the only way they can express pain, discomfort, fear, disagreement, or anxiety. Some common triggers — overstimulation from loud noises, a frenzied atmosphere, unfamiliar faces — are hallmarks of dementia care institutions.

“We can’t expect someone who is constantly and unfailingly disoriented to adapt to our environment anymore,” said Tracy Wharton , a licensed clinical social worker and dementia researcher in Florida. “We have to adapt to them.”

Eilon Caspi, a University of Connecticut researcher, analyzed 105 fatal incidents involving dementia residents and found 44% were fatal falls in which one resident pushed another. “Some people are aggressive, and some are violent,” Caspi said, “but if you look closely, the vast majority are doing their best while living with a serious brain disease.”

Holly Harmon, a senior vice president at the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, an industry trade group, said in a written statement that conflicts cannot always be averted despite facility operators’ best efforts. “If they do occur,” she said, “providers respond promptly with interventions to protect the residents and staff and prevent future occurrences.”

But Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, a resident advocacy group, said many operators of assisted living centers, including memory care units, are driven by the bottom line. “The issue that we see quite often is that assisted living retains people they should not,” Mollot said. “They don’t have the staffing or the competency or the structure to provide safe care.” Conversely, he said, when facilities have enough rooms filled with paying customers, they are more likely to evict residents who require too much attention.

“They will kick them out if they’re too cumbersome,” Mollot said.

Teepa Snow, an occupational therapist who founded Positive Approach to Care , a company that trains dementia caregivers, noted that the space inside many facilities, with double rooms, tight common areas and restricted outdoor access, can fuel conflicts. She said the pandemic degraded conditions in long-term care, as dementia residents with limited social skills atrophied in isolation in their rooms and staffing grew even sparser.

“It’s as bad as I’ve ever seen it,” she said.

"Very common fits of rage"

The following account of Dowd’s time at Canyon Creek is based on 44 pages of nurse’s notes, witness statements, and internal resident-on-resident altercation reports; all were contained in the facility’s records and filed as exhibits in the court case. After Shively’s death in December 2018, Dowd was given new prescriptions, although the court record is unclear if the change was because of Shively’s death. Still, the records show, Canyon Creek was unable to head off recurring altercations involving Dowd.

Some were verbal threats. Once, Dowd yelled at residents in the living room to shut up, called them “retards” and told them they should all die, a caregiver wrote in a witness statement. He grabbed one resident’s face and threatened to kill him, according to a nurse’s note. Another time, Dowd went up to a resident sitting on a sofa and grabbed his walker. Dowd shook it and told him to shut up. According to a witness statement, as a nurse took the resident to the bathroom, Dowd muttered under his breath: “Stuff his head in the toilet.”

Other conflicts were physical. Dowd shoved a resident “down on his back so hard his head bounced off the floor,” a nurse recorded in a note. In a different incident reported by a nurse, Dowd pushed a resident who had been agitated and cursing into a chair. On separate occasions, Dowd hit two residents on the head, once causing bleeding, according to two resident altercation reports.

The notes detail that Dowd was not always the initiator. Once, Dowd’s roommate scratched and punched him after Dowd told him to use the toilet rather than pee on the floor, resulting in a fight. Caregivers separated the two. Another day, a resident named Bill wandered into Dowd’s room and pulled Dowd’s hair and beard. Dowd told the nurses he “felt unsafe and VERY angry,” a nurse’s note said. The nurse led Bill out of Dowd’s room, but Dowd followed, yelling at Bill that he was “a fat bastard” and saying he was going to make Bill’s wife a widow.

“Jeff kept making a closed fist as tho he was going to hit Bill,” the nurse wrote in a witness statement. “I was legit scared because there was nothing I could do to defuse the situation. I’m literally scared to death of Jeff. I’m scared to approach him and talk to him when he gets into these very common fits of rage.”

Dowd ultimately went back to his room and a worker locked his door so no other resident would go in.

The records describe how Canyon Creek caregivers intervened after altercations began, often separating the fighting residents and updating Dowd’s brother on the clashes. Nurses would remove Dowd or the other resident from a room and discourage such acts. “Tried to explain it was inappropriate to hurt others,” one nurse wrote after one incident.

Salyers, the company marketing director, said in his email that the workers at Canyon Creek and other Koelsch facilities are “highly qualified” and “extensively trained.” He said the company’s memory care communities are “distinctively designed and staffed” for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

"It’s nice to have a girlfriend"

The nursing notes and statements in the court file suggest that incidents were frequent enough that nurses commented on Dowd’s occasional serenity. “No agitated or aggressive behaviors this shift,” one note said. Another nurse note said Dowd “continues to isolate at meals, sitting at a table by himself.” While Dowd enjoyed reading books and doing puzzles, he was overheard saying he was depressed and was “wondering if he wouldn’t be better off if he wasn’t around anymore.”

Nurses noted Dowd repeatedly exhibited sexual behavior that was either inappropriate — making “crude oral gestures while looking at younger females” — or ambiguous, such as placing his hand on a resident’s shoulder and commenting, “It’s nice to have a girlfriend.” Someone saw Dowd “grabbing on multiple residents[’] private areas,” a witness statement said. When nurses caught the behavior, they separated those involved and rebuked Dowd. A staff member wrote in a statement that Dowd was inappropriate throughout her shift, making sexual jokes and “trying to grab me.”

According to nursing notes, in summer 2021, Dowd told one female resident he wanted to see her genitals and later touched her breast. In August, a caregiver walked into Dowd’s room and found him touching the same resident under her shirt and pants. The caregiver told Dowd to “stop it and not ever do that again” and brought the woman out to meet her family, who had come to visit her.

After that incident, Canyon Creek sent Dowd to the emergency room at Montana State Hospital, a public psychiatric facility, according to a nurse administrator’s testimony in a deposition filed in court. The nurse testified Dowd was no longer at Canyon Creek. That is the last mention of Dowd’s whereabouts in the public record. A spokesperson for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, which oversees the hospital, would not confirm whether he was a patient.

At a pretrial hearing, the judge excluded discussion about Dowd’s altercations after Shively’s death. In a court filing, Shively’s lawyer asked permission to share evidence with the jury that Canyon Creek gave its executive director a bonus any month when 90% or more of the beds were filled so he could argue Canyon Creek had a financial motivation to admit Dowd. But the judge also barred that information from the trial, which Canyon Creek said in a court filing was irrelevant.

The Shively case went to trial in 2022 before a federal civil jury in Billings. Despite the exclusions, the jury decided Canyon Creek’s negligence caused Shively’s death. It awarded the family $310,000.

“For us, the money wasn’t a huge factor,” said Spencer Shively, another of Dan Shively’s sons, who called the damages so modest as to be a victory for Canyon Creek or its insurer. “At least they were negligent per se. But I don’t know it really changed anything. For me, I got some closure. I feel like these facilities are just continuing to do the same things they’re going to do because there hasn’t been systemic change.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — an independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

• memory care
• nursing home safety
• nursing homes

LL Flooring files bankruptcy, will close 94 stores. Here's where they are.

The home improvement retailer, formerly known as lumber liquidators, is closing nearly 100 stores while 300 will remain open. the richmond, virginia-based company has filed for bankruptcy..

LL Flooring has announced that it will close 94 stores in more than 30 states as it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The company, formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, said that it is nearly $110 million in long-term debt in filings made in Delaware bankruptcy court on Sunday .

The Richmond, Virginia-based company said in the filings that slowing home sales and rising interest rates contributed to slower sales in the home improvement market. The company's 300 other stores will remain open.

LL Flooring said it will stop accepting gift cards at all of its locations, including the ones that aren't shuttering, on Sept. 4 as a part of the bankruptcy process, and that gift cards cannot be exchanged for cash. The company said in the filings that it has approximately $131 million in outstanding gift cards.

LL Flooring said in the filings that it has attempted to find a buyer but is willing to solicit offers to close more stores if one cannot be found.

"The company is engaged in discussions with potential buyers of the company, and this process will allow us to evaluate binding bids through a court-supervised process in order to maximize value for all of our stakeholders," LL Flooring wrote in a letter to its customers . "While this could change, the company currently anticipates closing a sale of the business by end of September if a buyer is identified."

The company said that it has garnered $130 million in Chapter 11 financing, funded through existing lenders led by Bank of America.

Where is LL Flooring closing

To see the stores closing in your area, click on the state name to go directly to the state or scroll through the list below

Alabama | Arizona | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Louisiana | Massachusetts | Maryland | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Nevada | New Jersey | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin

• Tuscaloosa - 3305 McFarland Blvd. E
• Mesa -1845 S. Power Rd
• Phoenix - 2120 S. 7th St.
• Prescott Valley - 6889 E. 1st St.
• Bakersfield - 3601 Ming Ave.
• Burlingame - 1501 Adrian Rd.
• Elk Grove - 877 Elk Grove Blvd.
• Fairfield - 1595 Holiday Ln.
• Fresno - 5091 N. Fresno St.
• Rancho Cucamonga - 10920 Foothill Blvd.
• Salinas - 1043 N. Main St.
• San Diego - 2222 Verus St.
• Santee - 240 Town Center Pkwy.
• Torrance - 1431 W. Knox St.
• Visalia - 3275 S. Mooney Blvd.
• Longmont - 633 Frontage Rd.
• Loveland - 2985 N. Garfield Ave.
• Thornton - 930 E. 104th Ave.

Connecticut

• Milford - 1389 Boston Post Rd.
• North Haven - 430 Universal Dr. North
• Norwalk - 651 Connecticut Ave.
• Waterbury - 1012 Wolcott St.
• Clearwater Showroom - 2613 Gulf to Bay Blvd.
• Florida City - 33550 S. Dixie Highway
• Gainsville - 2607 NW 13th St.
• St. Augustine - 330 CBL Dr.
• Tampa - 8444 W. Hillsborough Ave.
• Cumming - 580 Atlanta Rd.
• Roswell - 593 Holcomb Bridge Rd.
• Bloomington - 1701 E. Empire St.
• Champaign - 301 W. Marketview Dr.
• Crystal Lake - 4500 W. Northwest Highway
• Peoria - 1467 N. Main St.
• Geneva - 1530 S. Randall Rd.
• Mundelein - 3080 W. Route 60
• South Elgin - 356 Randall Rd.
• Greenwood - 2117 Independence Dr.
• Lafayette - 4315 Commerce Dr.
• Muncie - 1515 W. McGalliard Rd.
• Davenport - 321 W. Kimberly Rd.
• Broussard - 3401 U.S. 90
• Lake Charles - 3415 Derek Dr.

Massachusetts

• Framingham - 235 Old Connecticut Pass
• Leominster - 110 Water Tower Plaza
• Edgewood - 2710 Pulaski Highway
• Lutherville - 2151 York Rd.
• Battle Creek - 5700 Beckley Rd.
• Kentwood - 4260 28th St. SE
• Chanhassen - 2973 Water Tower Pl.
• Rochester - 5139 Highway 52 N.
• St. Cloud - 3324 Division St. W.

Mississippi

• Hattiesburg - 4700 Hardy St.
• Chesterfield - 17724 Chesterfield Airport Rd.
• Joplin - 732 S. Range Line Rd.
• Kansas City - 2618 NE Vivion Rd.
• Las Vegas - 4588 N. Rancho Rd.
• Mount Holly - 531 High St.
• Woodbridge - 507 King George's Rd.
• Woodbury - 1450 Clements Bridge Rd.
• Medford - 700 E. Patchogue Yaphank Rd.
• New Hartford - 8619 Clinton St.
• Staten Island - 2040 Forest Ave.
• Westbury - 24 Kinkel St.

North Carolina

• Burlington - 1809 S. Church St.
• Cincinnati - 454 Ohio Pike
• Columbus - 4242 W. Broad St.
• Reynoldsburg - 2736 Brice Rd.
• Solon - 6025 Kruse Dr.
• Albany - 1241 SE Clay St.

Pennsylvania

• Exton - 213 W. Lincoln Highway
• Fairless Hills - 150 Lincoln Highway
• Philadelphia - 1530 S. Columbus Blvd.
• Clarksville - 115 Terminal Rd.
• Franklin - 209 S. Royal Oaks Blvd.
• Jackson - 1245 Vann Dr.
• Abilene - 4127 S. Danville Dr.
• Arlington - 808 Interstate 20
• College Station - 1140 Harvey Rd.
• Denton - 2311 Colorado Blvd.
• Fort Worth - 425 Sherry Ln.
• Houston - 8366 Westheimer Rd.
• Katy - 620 Katy Ft Bend Rd.
• Killeen - 1101 S. Fort Hood St.
• McAllen - 3300 W. Expressway 83
• San Antonio - 3142 SE Military Dr.
• Sherman - 1215 S. Sam Rayburn Freeway
• Riverdale - 4040 Riverdale Rd.
• Woodbridge - 14516 Potomac Mills Rd.
• Bellingham - 145 E. Stewart Rd.
• Olympia - 1520 Cooper Point Rd. SW
• Yakima - 2319 S. 1st St.

West Virginia

• Beckley - 1020 N. Eisenhower Dr.
• Parkersburg - 2838 Pike St.
• Menomonee Falls - N81W15180 Appleton Ave.

Former Lumber Liquidators latest retailer closing stores

LL Flooring is the latest in a string of retailers shutting down.

Big box discount store Big Lots announced this month that it may  close up to 315 stores  in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Big Lots marked some stores as closing on the  affected location's  info page. The company did not release a list of stores it intended to close.

The Columbus Dispatch − a part of the USA TODAY Network − reported that the Columbus-based retailer had  listed 293 locations as "closing soon"  

"In 2024, the U.S. economy has continued to face macroeconomic challenges including elevated inflation, which has adversely impacted the buying power of our customers,” Big Lots said in the filing.

The company reported that sales in the first quarter of 2024, which ended in May, fell more than 10% compared to the previous year.

Medieval history

Modern history, administrative and municipal status, demographics, transportation, notable people, twin towns and sister cities, external links.

Astrakhan was formerly the capital of the Khanate of Astrakhan (a remnant of the Golden Horde ) of the Astrakhan Tatars , and was located on the higher right bank of the Volga, seven miles (11   km) from the present-day city. Situated on caravan and water routes, it developed from a village into a large trading centre, before being conquered by Timur in 1395 and captured by Ivan the Terrible in 1556 and in 1558 it was moved to its present site.

The oldest economic and cultural center of the Lower Volga region, [16] it is often called the southernmost outpost of Russia, [17] and the Caspian capital. [18] [19] The city is a member of the Eurasian Regional Office of the World Organization United Cities and Local Governments . [20] The great ethnic diversity of its population gives a varied character to Astrakhan. The city is the center of the Astrakhan metropolitan area .

The name is a corruption of Hashtarkhan, itself a corruption of Haji Tarkhan ( حاجی‌ ترخان )—a name amply evidenced in the medieval writings. Tarkhan is possibly a Turco-Mongolian title standing for "great khan ", or "king", while haji or hajji is a title given to one who has made the Islamic requisite of pilgrimage to Mecca . Together, they denoted "the king who has visited Mecca". [ citation needed ] The city has given its name to the particular pelts from young karakul sheep , and in particular to the hats traditionally made from the pelts. [ citation needed ]

Colloquially, the city is known by the short form Astra . Another popular nickname is The Caspian Capital . [ citation needed ]

Astrakhan is in the Volga Delta , which is rich in sturgeon and exotic plants. The fertile area formerly contained the capitals of Khazaria and the Golden Horde . Astrakhan was first mentioned by travelers in the early 13th century as Xacitarxan . Tamerlane burnt it to the ground in 1395 during his war with the Golden Horde . From 1459 to 1556, Xacitarxan was the capital of Astrakhan Khanate by the Astrakhan Tatars . The ruins of this medieval settlement were found by archaeologists 12   km upstream from the modern-day city.

Starting in A.D. 1324, Ibn Battuta , the famous Berber Muslim traveler, began his pilgrimage from his native city of Tangier , present-day Morocco to Mecca. Along the 12,100-kilometer (7,500   mi) trek, which took nearly 29 years, Battuta came in contact with many new cultures, which he writes about in his diaries. One specific country that he passed through on his journey was the Golden Horde ruled by the descendants of Genghis Khan , located on the Volga River in southern Russia; which Battuta refers to as the river Athal. He then claims the Athal is, "one of the greatest rivers in the world". In the winter, the Khan stays in Astrakhan. Due to the cold water, Özbeg Khan ordered the people of Astrakhan to lay many bundles of hay down on the frozen river. He does this to allow the people to travel over the ice. When Battuta and the Khan spoke about Battuta visiting Constantinople, which the Khan granted him permission to do, the Khan then gifted Battuta with fifteen hundred dinars, many horses, and a dress of honor. [21] [22]

In 1556, the khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible , who had a new fortress, or kremlin , built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga in 1558. This year is traditionally considered to be the foundation of the modern city. [3]

In 1569, during the Russo-Turkish War , Astrakhan was besieged by the Ottomans, who had to retreat in disarray. A year later, the Ottoman sultan renounced his claims to Astrakhan, thus opening the entire Volga River to Russian traffic. [ citation needed ] The Ottoman Empire , though militarily defeated, insisted on safe passage for Muslim pilgrims and traders from Central Asia as well as the destruction of the Russian fort on the Terek River . [23] In the 17th century, the city was developed as a Russian gate to the Orient. Many merchants from Armenia , Safavid Persia , Mughal India , [24] [25] and Khivan Khanate settled in the town, giving it a cosmopolitan character.

For seventeen months in 1670–1671, Astrakhan was held by Stenka Razin and his Cossacks . Early in the following century, Peter the Great constructed a shipyard here and made Astrakhan the base for his hostilities against Persia, and later in the same century Catherine the Great accorded the city important industrial privileges. [26]

The city was held from 1707 by the Cossacks under Kondraty Bulavin during the Bulavin Rebellion until they were defeated the next year. A Kalmuck khan laid an abortive siege to the kremlin several years before that.

In 1717, it became the seat of Astrakhan Governorate , whose first governors included Artemy Petrovich Volynsky and Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev . Six years later, Astrakhan served as a base for the first Russian venture into Central Asia . In 1702, 1718 and 1767, it suffered severely from fires; in 1719 it was plundered by the Safavid Persians; and in 1830, cholera killed much of the populace. [26]

The Astrakhan Kremlin was built from the 1580s to the 1620s from bricks taken from the site of Sarai Berke . Its two impressive cathedrals were consecrated in 1700 and 1710, respectively. Built by masters from Yaroslavl , they retain many traditional features of Russian church architecture, while their exterior decoration is definitely baroque .

In March 1919 after a failed workers' revolt against Bolshevik rule, 3,000 to 5,000 people were executed in less than a week by the Cheka under orders from Sergey Kirov . Some victims had stones tied around their necks and were thrown into the Volga. [27] [28]

During Operation Barbarossa , the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the A-A line running from Astrakhan to Arkhangelsk was to be the eastern limit of German military operation and occupation. The plan was never carried out, as Germany captured neither the two cities nor Moscow . In the autumn of 1942, the region to the west of Astrakhan became one of the easternmost points in the Soviet Union reached by the invading German Wehrmacht , during Case Blue , the offensive which led to the Battle of Stalingrad . Light armored forces of German Army Group A made brief scouting missions as close as 35   km to Astrakhan before withdrawing. In the same period, elements of both the Luftwaffe 's KG 4 and KG 100 bomber wings attacked Astrakhan, flying several air raids and bombing the city's oil terminals and harbor installations.

In 1943, Astrakhan was made the seat of a Soviet oblast within the RSFSR . The oblast was retained as a national province of the independent Russian Federation in the 1991 administrative reshuffle after the dismemberment of the Soviet Union .

In the present day, Astrakhan is a large industrial centre of the Volga country, Russia, with a population of over 500,000. Starting nearly 400 years ago and continuing to the present day, Astrakhan has been Russia's main center of fish processing. The market for fish is a large component of the economy in this city. [29]

Owing to shared Caspian borders, Astrakhan recently has been playing a significant role in the relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. As the latter's government has been heavily investing into the wellbeing of the city, Astrakhan has recently begun to symbolize the friendship between both countries. In 2010 a bridge was constructed with donations from Azerbaijan, which was named "Bridge of Friendship". [30] Moreover, Azerbaijani government sponsored secondary school number 11, which carries the name of the national leader Heydar Aliyev , as well as a children's entertainment center named "Dream". [31] Apart from that, a park has been built in the center of Astrakhan which is dedicated to friendship between the two countries. In the last 5 years Astrakhan has been visited by top Azerbaijani delegations on several occasions. [32] [33] [34] [35]

After fraud was alleged in the mayoral election of 2012 and the United Russia candidate was declared the winner, organizers of the 2011–2012 Russian protests supported the defeated candidate, Oleg V. Shein of Just Russia , in a hunger strike . Protestors, buoyed by celebrities who support the reform movement, attracted 5,000 people to a rally on April 14. [36]

Astrakhan is the administrative center of the oblast . [10] Within the framework of administrative divisions , it is incorporated as the city of oblast significance of Astrakhan —an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts . [1] As a municipal division , the city of oblast significance of Astrakhan is incorporated as Astrakhan Urban Okrug . [11]

The city of Astrakhan is further subdivided into four administrative districts: Kirovsky, Leninsky, Sovetsky and Truskovsky.

Astrakhan is the archiepiscopal see of one of the metropolitanates and (as Astrakhan and Yenotayevka) eparchies of the Russian Orthodox Church , its only other suffragan being Akhtubinsk. [ citation needed ] There is also a Catholic community, served by the Church of the Assumption of Mary (Astrakhan) . There is also a substantial Muslim population made up of Astrakhan Tatars and other Muslims. [37] At 1777 the white Mosque was built, [38] and the Baku Mosque was built in 1907–1909.

According to the results of the 2021 Census, the population of Astrakhan was 475,629. [15]

At the time of the official 2021 Census, the ethnic makeup of the city's population was: [39]

The city lies on two banks of the Volga, in the upper part of the Volga Delta, on eleven islands of the Caspian Depression, 60 miles (100 km) from the Caspian Sea. At an elevation of 28 meters (92 ft) below sea level, it is the lowest city in Russia.

Astrakhan features a continental cold desert climate ( Köppen climate classification : BWk ) with cold winters and hot summers. Astrakhan is one of the driest cities in Europe. Rainfall is scarce but relatively evenly distributed throughout the course of the year with, however, more precipitation (58%) in the hot season (six hottest months of the year).

The below sea-level elevation and long distance from the ocean of Astrakhan significantly influences the climate. Winters are mild cold with average January temperature -3.6 °С (25.5 °F). Summer temperatures in Astrakhan are one of the highest in Russia with average Jule temperature 26.1 °С (79 °F) and may reach 40 °С (104 °F) and higher. The summers are much hotter than found further west on similar latitude in Europe and worldwide for 46°N with the notable exception of the interior Pacific Northwest of the United States. The mean annual temperature amplitude (difference between the mean monthly temperatures of the hottest and coldest months) is thus equal to 29.7 °С (85.5 °F) so the climate is truly continental. Spring and fall are basically transitional seasons between summer and winter.

Astrakhan has five institutions of higher education. Most prominent among these are Astrakhan State Technical University and Astrakhan State University .

The city is served by Narimanovo Airport named after Soviet Azerbaijani politician Nariman Narimanov . It is managed by OAO Aeroport Astrakhan. After its reconstruction and the building of the international sector, opened in February 2011, Narimanovo Airport is one of the most modern regional airports in Russia. There are direct flights between Astrakhan and Aktau , Istanbul , St. Petersburg and Moscow.

There is also a military airbase nearby ( Astrakhan (air base) ).

Astrakhan is linked by rail to the north ( Volgograd and Moscow), the east ( Atyrau and Kazakhstan ) and the south ( Makhachkala and Baku). There are direct trains to Moscow, Volgograd, Saint Petersburg , Baku , Kyiv , Brest and other towns. Intercity and international buses are available as well. Public local transport is mainly provided by buses and minibuses called marshrutkas . Until 2007 there were also trams, and until 2017 trolleybuses.

• Luara Hayrapetyan , singer
• Boris Kustodiev , painter
• Joseph Deniker , naturalist and anthropologist
• Ilya Ulyanov , father of Aleksandr Ulyanov and Vladimir Lenin .
• Rinat Dasayev , association football player
• Marziyya Davudova , actress
• Velimir Khlebnikov , poet
• Emiliya Turey , handball player
• Andrei Belyanin , science fiction writer
• Dmitri Dyuzhev , actor
• Maksim Gleykin , former professional football player
• Vasily Trediakovsky , academic, poet, translator
• Tamara Milashkina , soprano
• Valeria Barsova , soprano
• Maria Maksakova, Sr. , mezzo-soprano
• Elena Nikitina , skeleton racer
• Yelena Shalamova , rhythmic gymnast
• Natalia Sokolovskaya , pianist and composer
• Nikolai Petrovich Skarzhinsky Russian Cossack Lieutenant decorated at the Battle of Borodino . [42]
• Pytor Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky Russian general and governor of Astrakhan. [43]

Astrakhan is twinned with:

• Astrakhan Jews
• Astrakhan Tatars

Related Research Articles

Privolzhsky District is the name of several various districts in Russia. The name literally means "something near the Volga".

Krasnoyarsky District is the name of several administrative and municipal districts in Russia:

Akhtubinsk is a town and the administrative center of Akhtubinsky District in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Akhtuba River, 292 kilometers (181 mi) north of Astrakhan, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 41,853 (2010 Russian census) ; 45,542 ; 50,261 (1989 Soviet census) ; 30,000 (1968).

Znamensk is a closed town in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Population: 29,401 (2010 Russian census)

Narimanov is a town and the administrative center of Narimanovsky District in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia, located on the western bank of the Volga River, 48 kilometers (30 mi) northwest from Astrakhan, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 11,521 (2010 Russian census) ; 11,202 (2002 Census) ; 11,084 (1989 Soviet census) ; 3,400 (1979).

Kamyzyak is a town and the administrative center of Kamyzyaksky District in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia, located on the Kamyzyak River, 27 kilometers (17 mi) south of Astrakhan, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 16,314 (2010 Russian census) ; 16,052 (2002 Census) ; 15,084 (1989 Soviet census) .

Volodarsky District is the name of several administrative and municipal districts in Russia. The districts are generally named after V. Volodarsky, a Russian revolutionary and politician.

Chernoyarsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the eleven in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. It is located in the north of the oblast. The area of the district is 4,217.99 square kilometers (1,628.58 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Chyorny Yar. As of the 2010 Census, the total population of the district was 20,220, with the population of Chyorny Yar accounting for 38.5% of that number.

Ikryaninsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the eleven in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. It is located in the south of the oblast. The area of the district is 1,950 square kilometers (750 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Ikryanoye. As of the 2010 Census, the total population of the district was 47,759, with the population of Ikryanoye accounting for 21.0% of that number.

Limansky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the eleven in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. It is located in the southwest of the oblast. The area of the district is 5,234 square kilometers (2,021 sq mi). Its administrative center is the urban locality of Liman. As of the 2010 Census, the total population of the district was 31,952, with the population of Liman accounting for 28.2% of that number.

Privolzhsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the eleven in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. It is located in the south of the oblast. The area of the district is 840.9 square kilometers (324.7 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Nachalovo. Population: 43,647 (2010 Russian census) ; 38,649 ; 38,575 (1989 Soviet census) . The population of Nachalovo accounts for 12.5% of the district's total population.

Volodarsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the eleven in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. It is located in the south of the oblast. The area of the district is 3,883 square kilometers (1,499 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Volodarsky. Population: 47,825 (2010 Russian census) ; 47,351 ; 46,638 (1989 Soviet census) . The population of the administrative center accounts for 20.9% of the district's total population.

Yenotayevsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the eleven in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. It is located in the west of the oblast. The area of the district is 6,300 square kilometers (2,400 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Yenotayevka. Population: 26,786 (2010 Russian census) ; 27,625 ; 29,093 (1989 Soviet census) . The population of Yenotayevka accounts for 28.4% of the district's total population.

Kharabali is a town and the administrative center of Kharabalinsky District in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Akhtuba River 142 kilometers (88 mi) northwest of Astrakhan, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 18,117 (2010 Russian census) ; 18,296 (2002 Census) ; 18,566 (1989 Soviet census) .

Ikryanoye is a rural locality and the administrative center of Ikryaninsky District of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Population: 10,036 (2010 Russian census) ; 9,925 (2002 Census) ; 9,629 (1989 Soviet census) .

Krasny Yar is a rural locality and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsky District of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Population: 11,824 (2010 Russian census) ; 10,926 (2002 Census) ; 10,875 (1989 Soviet census) .

Nachalovo is a rural locality and the administrative center of Privolzhsky District of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Population: 5,451 (2010 Russian census) ; 4,830 (2002 Census) ; 3,922 (1989 Soviet census) .

Volodarsky is a rural locality and the administrative center of Volodarsky District of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Population: 10,005 (2010 Russian census) ; 9,553 (2002 Census) ; 9,326 (1989 Soviet census) .

Volgo-Kaspiysky is an urban-type settlement in Kamyzyaksky District of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Population: 2,581 (2010 Russian census) ; 2,674 (2002 Census) ; 3,088 (1989 Soviet census) .

Kirovsky is an urban-type settlement in Kamyzyaksky District of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Population: 2,249 (2010 Russian census) ; 2,259 (2002 Census) ; 2,446 (1989 Soviet census) .

• 1 2 3 4 5 Law #67/2006-OZ
• ↑ Decision #123
• ↑ Charter of Astrakhan, Article   35
• ↑ Charter of Astrakhan, Article   32
• ↑ Official website of Astrakhan. Head of the City Administration Archived May 9, 2015, at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
• ↑ Russian Institute of Urban Planning. Генеральный план города Астрахань. Основные технико-экономические показатели. Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine ( General Plan of the City of Astrakhan. Main Technical Economical Measures ). (in Russian)
• ↑ Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том   1 [ 2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol.   1 ] . Всероссийская перепись населения 2010   года [2010 All-Russia Population Census] (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service .
• ↑ Astrakhan Oblast Territorial Branch of the Federal State Statistics Service . Население Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine ( Population ) (in Russian)
• 1 2 Charter of Astrakhan Oblast, Article   9
• 1 2 3 Law #43/2004-OZ
• ↑ "Об исчислении времени" . Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации (in Russian). 3 June 2011 . Retrieved 19 January 2019 .
• ↑ Почта России. Информационно-вычислительный центр ОАСУ РПО. ( Russian Post ). Поиск объектов почтовой связи ( Postal Objects Search ) (in Russian)
• ↑ Charter of Astrakhan, Article   6
• 1 2 "Оценка численности постоянного населения по субъектам Российской Федерации" . Federal State Statistics Service . Retrieved 26 March 2023 .
• ↑ "Официальный сайт органов местного самоуправления" . Archived from the original on 11 December 2013 . Retrieved 14 May 2023 .
• ↑ "В военных подразделениях Астраханской области работают 35 тысяч специалистов — Российская газета — Спецвыпуск № 4762" . rg.ru . October 2008 . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ Howard Amos (17 July 2011). "Astrakhan" . themoscowtimes.com . Archived from the original on 19 September 2018 . Retrieved 18 September 2018 .
• ↑ "Gazprom dobycha Astrakhan to be major partner for Days of Spain in Russia within Astrakhan Oblast" . www.gazprom.com . 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021 . Retrieved 18 September 2018 .
• ↑ "Публикации – Члены ОГМВ Евразия" . euroasia-uclg.ru . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ " Lands of the Golden Horde & the Chagatai: 1332 - 1333 Archived August 12, 2018, at the Wayback Machine ". University of California, Berkeley (UCB).
• ↑ Batuta, Ibn, and Samuel Lee. The Travels of Ibn Battuta in the Near East, Asia and Africa. pp79
• ↑ Janet Martin, Medieval Russia:980-1584 , 356.
• ↑ "Astrakhan's India Connection" . 16 March 2020.
• ↑ Staff, Homegrown (8 June 2021). "Fascinating Accounts Of Indians In Russia Dating Back To The 17th Century" . Homegrown . Retrieved 14 May 2023 .
• ↑ [books.google.com.sg/books?id=00o2eO8w06oC&pg=PA5]
• ↑ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on December 22, 2011 . Retrieved March 12, 2012 . {{ cite web }} : CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( link )
• ↑ "Astrakhan" . russia.rin.ru . Retrieved 14 May 2023 .
• ↑ "Heydar Aliyev Foundation - Azerbaijan-Russia Friendship Bridge in Astrakhan" . heydar-aliyev-foundation.org . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ "Azerbaijan, Russian Astrakhan mull relations" . azernews.az . 12 May 2014 . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ APA Information Agency, APA Holding. "APA - Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia met in Astrakhan - PHOTO" . en.apa.az . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ "News.Az - Azerbaijani first lady Mehriban Aliyeva receives Astrakhan Oblast Order of Merit" . news.az . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ "tass.ru/en/world/699466" . tass.ru . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ "Гейдар Алиев на полях сражений Ивана Грозного - астраханские записки Эйнуллы Фатуллаева" . Haqqin . 19 April 2015 . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• ↑ David M. Herszenhorn (14 April 2012). "Moscow Protesters Take Their Show on the Road" . The New York Times . Retrieved 15 April 2012 .
• ↑ "TATAR MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF ASTRAKHAN IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY" . Retrieved 14 May 2023 .
• ↑ "White Mosque of Astrakhan attraction reviews - White Mosque of Astrakhan tickets - White Mosque of Astrakhan discounts - White Mosque of Astrakhan transportation, address, opening hours - attractions, hotels, and food near White Mosque of Astrakhan" .
• ↑ "Итоги::Астраханьстат" . Retrieved 26 March 2023 .
• ↑ "Pogoda.ru.net (Weather and Climate-The Climate of Astrakhan)" (in Russian). Weather and Climate . Retrieved 8 November 2021 .
• ↑ "Astrahan (Astrakhan) Climate Normals 1961–1990" . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved 3 November 2021 .
• ↑ "Генерал Скаржинский и его дети: неизвестное о представителях известного рода" . 19 November 2016.
• ↑ "رشت و آستارا خان خواهر خوانده شدند+ تصاویر | پایگاه خبری تحلیلی 8دی نیوز" . 8deynews.com (in Persian). 28 April 2014 . Retrieved 6 September 2017 .
• Государственная Дума Астраханской области.   Закон   №67/2006-ОЗ   от   4 октября 2006 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Астраханской области», в ред. Закона №46/2017-ОЗ от   5 сентября 2017 г.   «О преобразовании муниципальных образований и административно-территориальных единиц "Лебяжинский сельсовет", "Образцово-Травинский сельсовет", "Полдневский сельсовет" и внесении изменений в Закон Астраханской области "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований и наделении их статусом сельского, городского поселения, городского округа, муниципального района" и Закон Астраханской области "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Астраханской области"». Вступил в силу   по истечении 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Сборник законов и нормативных правовых актов Астраханской области", №47, 19 октября 2006 г. (State Duma of Astrakhan Oblast.   Law   # 67/2006-OZ   of   October   4, 2006 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Astrakhan Oblast , as amended by the Law   # 46/2017-OZ of   September   5, 2017 On the Transformation of the Municipal Formations and the Administrative-Territorial Units of "Lebyazhinsky Selsoviet", "Obraztsovo-Travinsky Selsoviet", "Poldnevsky Selsoviet", and Amending the Law of Astrakhan Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations and on Granting Them the Status of Rural, Urban Settlement, Urban Okrug, Municipal District" and the Law of Astrakhan Oblast "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Astrakhan Oblast" . Effective as of   after ten days from the day of the official publication have passed.).
• Государственная Дума Астраханской области.   Закон   №43/2004-ОЗ   от   6 августа 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципальных образований и наделении их статусом сельского, городского поселения, городского округа, муниципального района», в ред. Закона №47/2017-ОЗ от   5 сентября 2017 г.   «О внесении изменений в Закон Астраханской области "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований и наделении их статусом сельского, городского поселения, городского округа, муниципального района"». Вступил в силу   через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Астраханские известия", №34, 12 августа 2004 г. (State Duma of Astrakhan Oblast.   Law   # 43/2004-OZ   of   August   6, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations and on Granting Them the Status of Rural, Urban Settlement, Urban Okrug, Municipal District , as amended by the Law   # 47/2017-OZ of   September   5, 2017 On Amending the Law of Astrakhan Oblast "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations and on Granting Them the Status of Rural, Urban Settlement, Urban Okrug, Municipal District" . Effective as of   the day which is 10 days after the official publication.).
• Городская Дума муниципального образования "Город Астрахань".   Решение   №24   от   31 марта 2016 г. «Устав муниципального образования "Город Астрахань"», в ред. Решения №91 от   17 июля 2017 г.   «О внесении изменений в Устав муниципального образования "Город Астрахань"». Вступил в силу   22 апреля 2016 г. (за исключением отдельных положений). Опубликован: "Астраханский вестник", №15, 21 апреля 2016 г. (City Duma of the Municipal Formation of the "City of Astrakhan".   Decision   # 24   of   March   31, 2016 Charter of the Municipal Formation of the "City of Astrakhan" , as amended by the Decision   # 91 of   July   17, 2017 On Amending the Charter of the Municipal Formation of the "City of Astrakhan" . Effective as of   April   22, 2016 (with the exception of certain clauses).).
• Государственная Дума Астраханской области.   №21/2007-ОЗ   9 апреля 2007 г. «Устав Астраханской области», в ред. Закона №49/2017-ОЗ от   25 сентября 2017 г.   «О внесении изменения в статью   17 Устава Астраханской области». Вступил в силу   30 апреля 2007 г. (за исключением отдельных положений). Опубликован: "Сборник законов и нормативных правовых актов Астраханской области", №18, 19 апреля 2007 г. (State Duma of Astrakhan Oblast.   # 21/2007-OZ   April   9, 2007 Charter of Astrakhan Oblast , as amended by the Law   # 49/2017-OZ of   September   25, 2017 On Amending Article   17 of the Charter of Astrakhan Oblast . Effective as of   April   30, 2007 (with the exception of several clauses).).
• Городской Совет города Астрахани.   Решение   №123   от   1 ноября 2000 г. «Об утверждени гимна города Астрахани». (City Council of the City of Astrakhan.   Decision   # 123   of   November   1, 2000 On Adopting the Anthem of the City of Astrakhan . ).
• Kropotkin, Peter Alexeivitch (1911). "Astrakhan (town)"   . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol.   2 (11th   ed.). p.   795.
• Official website of Astrakhan (in Russian)
• Directory of organizations in Astrakhan (in Russian)
• Old photos of Astrakhan

• Astrakhan Tourism
• Astrakhan Itineraries
• Astrakhan Hotels

Top Tourist Attractions in Astrakhan

• Astrakhan Oblast
• Things To Do In Astrakhan

Best Things To Do in Astrakhan, Russia

Have you ever visited a new place and felt ‘wow’ about it? For many visitors, it happens at Astrakhan.

Astrakhan may not be as popular as other cities in Russia, but don’t let that fool you. Astrakhan is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination.

You might wish to revisit it someday again, to take a break and relax at Astrakhan.

If you have plans to visit Russia and are not sure if Astrakhan should be included in your itinerary, keep reading. In this list, we have put together some of the things to do in Astrakhan and around. We have a hunch that if you include this city in your travel plans, you will be thrilled you did so.

Tourist Attractions in Astrakhan

Here is the list of things to do in Astrakhan and tourist attractions in city.

Narimanovo Airport

Address: Narimanovo Airport Astrakhan, Russia 423520

• What to do in Astrakhan in 1 day
• What to do in Astrakhan in 2 days

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Russia The Great - Astrakhanskaya Oblast, Russia

Astrakhan , oblast (region), southwestern Russia . It occupies a low-lying area (much of it below sea level) along the lower Volga River and is bordered to the northeast by Kazakhstan . The Volga and its parallel distributary, the Akhtuba River, form the axis of the oblast , ending in a large delta on the Caspian Sea . The majority of the population lives in the delta area around the city of Astrakhan , the administrative centre.

Vegetables and fruit are grown on the fertile fields enriched by the Volga. Fishing is important along the rivers and Caspian shore, but it has suffered from pollution and the falling sea level . A major nature reserve in the delta protects the unique vegetation—including the lotus ( Nelumbium caspicum )—and abundant birdlife—including pelicans and herons . Outside the floodplain and delta is an arid steppe –semidesert region, with sand dunes, saline soils and lakes, and a sparse sage vegetation; it is used only for extensive cattle and sheep raising and large-scale salt extraction at Lake Baskunchak. Area 17,027 square miles (44,100 square km). Pop. (2010) 1.010,073; (2014 est.) 1,016,516.