Abstract:
This study explored nurses willingness to work in assisted living institutions for the
aged. Background Assisted living institutions are multifunctional facilities that provide clinical
and ambulatory (day hospital) care for somatic and psychogeriatric elderly with multiple
pathology, disability, and handicaps. Methods The study used a mixed-methods approach in
which qualitative data was collected first before the quantitative data. Data was collected through
focused group discussions (FGDs) and questionnaires from 248 respondents with age ranging
from 20 to 58 years from October 2016 to January 2017 with 8 missing from the quantitative
data. Four pertinent questions were sked both in the study. Sampling was convenient and
purposive from 4 different health institutions in the metropolis. Data from the FGDs were
digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Quantitative data was entered in SPSS version 23
and cleaned. Both sets of data were coded and analysed. Result The nurses appreciate the
increase in the number of the aged in their communities; they think community members prepare
towards their ageing by using their children as security, and the idea of assisted living was
enthusiastically supported, but with the proviso that it would need to be ran by a private
entrepreneur. Almost all the 240 respondents said that government should establish an institution
for the aged and they would be willing to work in such an institution, if only it will run by a
private entrepreneur. Conclusion The nurses also think that families are now becoming more
nuclear; that is why caring for the aged has become a problem, thus creating a need for assisted
living facilities.
