Based on qualitative interviews with 14 nursing home residents and 13 caregivers, this article explores how elders adapted to life in a nursing home, and how their caregivers came to embrace nursing home placement as the optimal way to meet their elders' need for care. These processes were mediated by two mechanisms: the function the institution…

Kahneman and Tversky's (1979) Prospect theory was tested as a model of preferences for prolonging life under various hypothetical health statuses. A sample of 384 elderly people living in congregate housing (263 healthy, 131 frail) indicated how long (if at all) they would want to live under each of nine hypothetical health conditions (e.g.,…

Notes that Denmark and Sweden have achieved reduction in institutionalization of elderly individuals by increasing home care and housing with services and adaptation. Describes innovative model of nursing home care in Denmark--a self-care model that fosters independent living and decision making as long as possible. (Author/NB)