“This is not life, this is just vegetation”—Lived experiences of long-term care in Europe's largest psychiatric home: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Purpose: Understanding the experiences of long-term care (LTC) may help to improve care by assisting mental health professionals and allowing mental health policies to be customized more effectively. Design and Methods: Semistructured interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings: Three main themes emerged as a result: 1. Perception of selves, 2. Experience and representation of the institution, 3. Maintenance of safe spaces. Practice Implications: Communication with patients, investigation of their identity processes, and relationship toward their past and present self during LTC might aid in well-being and sense of congruency in their identities. Nurses should encourage patients to keep connected with their memories and past selves through different activities.