Socialization in a retirement home, an issue for the resident. An ethnosociological study useful for nurses

Activity programs are described in institutional policies as an added benefit in the lives of residents in that such activities are assumed to maintain health through the process of socialization. The purpose of this study is to describe the determining factors in the socialization process of elderly residents in retirement homes. A qualitative study, in nursing study using anthropological methodology was carried out from April 2016 to May 2018 in ten retirement homes in the Limousin and on Reunion Island. territory. Fifty-eight semi-structured interviews have been analyzed using NVivo 11Plus® software. The socialization process of the elderly in the context of institutional regulation is complex. Attendance at social activities is often used to measure the degree of socialization and integration in the institution, but, on its own, it is not a significant indicator. Other elements involved in the complex socialization process of the elderly in retirement homes include: family, relations with other residents, and interaction with caregivers plays a major role. An elderly person can remain isolated in his or her room, never participate in activities, and yet feel perfectly integrated and socialized within the institution. Future research will focus on the relationship between residents and caregivers as a factor in the socialization process, including the knowledge and skills of the caregivers.