Tove Harnett

Relocation to residential care facilities is a unique type of transition. For most older people it is the last
move they make in their life when they have no other options. The transition itself involves numerous
challenges. There is a lot of knowledge about the situations before and after relocating to a nursing home,
but few studies are based on the actual relocation process. This paper explores older people’s perceptions
during the transition process when they are placed in a stand-by position: having a general decision of the
right to move into a nursing home but waiting for an offer that must result in acceptance or admission on
short notice. Knowledge capturing the actual relocation process is of particular importance as this process
itself may elevate the risk of death. This paper is based on interviews with people during their transition to
a nursing home. The article examines how older people experience and deal with the relocation process.
The findings show how older people do different types of “work” during the relocation. The first is practical
work (processing practical details involved in the move). The second is relational work (the relocation are
connected to, and facilitated by, family members, home care services, nursing home staff and residents
etc.). The last one is emotional work (processing old age and illnesses/disabilities).