The Role of Materiality in Nursing Home Communication

Effective communication between staff and residents in nursing homes is crucial to the well-being and quality of life of older adults. This ethnographic study explores the communication practices between staff and residents in somatic nursing homes, focusing on the role of materiality in shaping interactions. Drawing on actor-network theory (ANT), this article examines how barriers emerge between staff and residents and how materiality influences the processes of multimodal ways of information sharing. Through observations and interviews, the authors have identified and followed key actants—such as communication tools, physical environments, routines, and knowledge—that mediate, enable, or obstruct interaction. The findings show that communication tools and methods can both enable and obstruct information sharing, leading to the exclusion of residents. By analyzing the complex networks of human and non-human components, this study highlights the importance of providing the right tools, knowledge, and conditions for staff to facilitate individually suited communication between themselves and the residents living in nursing homes. In uncovering these dynamics, the article contributes to deepening the understanding of how materiality is central to understanding how communication practices shape care relations and residents’ everyday quality of life. These insights have implications for improving elder care practices focused on resident autonomy and the promotion of social participation among older adults in nursing homes.