An Evaluation of Nursing Home Furnishings by Occupants and their Families

Abstract

Little is known regarding the satisfactions of occupants and their families with the furnishings in nursing homes. To learn more about this subject, forty geriatric residents in a nursing home in San Antonio, Texas, and twenty family members were interviewed utilizing questions with responses on a Likert-type scale.

The findings indicate that both the occupants and the families were satisfied with the furnishings. However, there were differences in degrees of satisfaction, with the family members being better satisfied than the occupants. When asked to suggest changes in furnishings for five areas of the nursing home – including both public and private areas – the residents offered specific recommendations (such as firmer seating units, better lighting, sturdier dining tables) whereas the families had few comments. Within the resident group, there were few differences in the satisfaction of male and female residents.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Wallace Crocker

Mary Wallace Crocker is a professor in the Home Economics Department, Memphis State University, Memphis Tennessee 38152.

Susan Krals

Susan Krais is teaching home economics at Temple High School in Temple, Texas.