Family Perspectives on Freedom of Movement for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia: A Qualitative Study

Freedom of movement for people with dementia has received increasing attention in recent years, particularly in nursing homes. Nursing home residents' families play an important role in supporting their freedom of movement. Therefore, this qualitative study examines how families interpret and experience the freedom of movement of nursing home residents with dementia. Exploratory in-depth interviews were held with 13 family members of nursing home residents living with dementia. Data were analyzed thematically, starting with open coding and iterative refinement of codes. These codes led to the formulation of subthemes, which were clustered into five central themes: physical environments that support or hinder freedom, freedom is embedded in social contexts, value tensions in shaping perspectives on freedom, navigating unclear roles and responsibilities, and strategies for limited outdoor access. These central themes showed how family members interpret and experience freedom of movement in nursing homes for people with dementia. The findings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of freedom of movement as families see it. Importantly, they suggest that nursing homes should actively involve families in shared decision-making and daily practices that balance freedom and safety to better support the quality of life of residents with dementia.