Nursing home placement. Factors affecting caregivers' decisions to place family members with dementia.

Nurses who work with older adults with dementia in the community are aware of how difficult it can be for family members to make placement-related decisions, and need research-based information to help families make these decisions. This article presents the results of a qualitative research study intended to explore the factors influencing caregivers' decision-making process related to placing an elderly family member with dementia in a nursing home. Using the study findings, the author suggests a theory which helps to explain some of the decision-making factors which appear to influence caregivers' abilities to make placement-related decisions. The nursing implications of this theory, and recommendations for future research, are presented.