The experience of older people living in an elderly residential home (Panti Sosial Tresna Werdha): a phenomenology.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to gain an overview of the experiences of older people living in an elderly residential home (Panti Sosial Tresna Werdha [PSTW]).

METHOD: The study used qualitative method with the descriptive phenomenology approach. The participants consisted of six older people who live in institutions. Data were collected through in-depth interviews in accordance with the purpose of the research, and an analysis of the data from the interviews was performed using the analysis stage by Collaizi.

RESULTS: Three themes emerged from this study, namely independent living needs and support systems as a reason for staying at PSTW, the adaptive response to life in PSTW, and family support as a contributing factor to remaining at PSTW.

CONCLUSIONS: Most of the elderly's support came from their children or nephews and nieces. Receiving full emotional support from relatives through family visits was deemed necessary for the elderly, as it made them feel happy to continue the rest of their lives in the elderly care home.