Transition to residential care: experiences of elderly Chinese people in Hong Kong

A qualitative study was designed to explore the experiences of transition i nto residential care among elderly Chinese people in Hong Kong. With the el derly people's consent, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 resident s 1 week after their admission into a residential care home. The purpose of the interviews was to explore what the transition experience was like for the Chinese elders and how they settled into residential life. Content anal ysis of the interview data revealed the significance of cultural influences in the transition experiences. A number of issues suggested in the literat ure as barriers to adjustment to residential care, such as living with rule s and regulations, lack of privacy and autonomy were not regarded as import ant by the Chinese elders. The Chinese values of balance, harmony and colle ctivism have made it easier for them to remain open and accept the communal way of living. Yet, these same values have restricted the elders in develo ping new relationships with staff and other residents. This appears to be t he particular challenge facing Chinese elderly residents. Implications for professionals working With elderly residents are discussed in the light of these findings.