To Örebro University

Introduction Societal norms and policies encourage older adults to age and receive care in their home, referred to as ageing in place. Nevertheless, Swedish older adults apply for nursing home admission. To understand how ageing in place better could be supported, the aim was to study descriptions of older adults’ reasons for applying to a nursing home in documents of granted nursing home decisions.

Methods 160 granted nursing home decisions underwent document analysis, to study if reasons occurred due to person, environmental or occupational factors according to occupational theory model Canadian Model of Occupation Performance- Engagement.

Result Several factors in different parts of life were experienced to lead to a nursing home application, e.g., multiple impairments, anxiety, loneliness, or longing to be closer to relatives or healthcare staff. Additionally, reasons could also be recommendations from healthcare staff or that a spouse didn´t want to live together with support from home-based care.

Conclusions The results highlight societal injustices that occurred for older adults who age in place, which expedited the applications. The documents described how ageing in place shrunk their opportunities for activity, social cohesion, and the possibility to proximity to staff.