Intergenerational relationships process in nursing homes: A grounded theory study

Aims: In the context of the nursing home, intergenerational relationships has of particular importance because people of different ages and from different generations interact with each other. Caregivers, including nurses, can cover a wide range of intergenerational relationships in the form of care provided to the elderly. Despite the importance of intergenerational relationship among the elderly the challenges of this concept in nursing homes are not clarified well. This study was performed to identify the process of intergenerational relationships in nursing homes. Materials & Methods: This was a qualitative study, in which 13 residents elderly and 8 employees(5 nurses, 1 supervisor, 1 psychologist and 1 nursing home manager) working in the nursing home were recruited purposively from three nursing homes located in Tehran, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and  analyzed by continuous comparison method. Results: Data analysis, performed using the method proposed by Strauss and Corbin, resulted in  5 main categories. Intergenerational tensions emerged as the core variable. The main factor for the developing  the core variable  was "components based on psychological factors". Other factors included "defective context of intergenerational relationships" as contextual factors in the nursing homes environment and facilitators and barriers as interfering factors in intergenerational relationships and "trying to resolve tensions" and "living in the dust of insecurity" as strategies and consequences. Conclusion: Intergenerational differences between residents  and staffs make it difficult to establish effective communication between them and lack of quality care. This findings  can help nursing home managers to apply strategies to remove barriers to intergenerational relationships and how to improve these relationships and greater cohesion between generations to lead to better care and subsequently improve their quality of life.