Nursing home residents' perceptions of the quality of their care.

This pilot study employed qualitative interviews to assess nursing home residents' perceptions of their "best" and "worst" experiences in the nursing home. Findings suggest residents are least satisfied with the care provided by nurse aides, and most satisfied with that provided by professional staff members. The quality of interpersonal relationships with staff was the basis for the majority of both residents' best and worst experiences. Qualitative analyses identified specific "adaptive responses" that were associated with how residents interpreted and responded to negative experiences with care.