English Title

Abstract

This phenomenological, qualitative study explores the institutionalization experience and adaptive behavior in people 65 years or older during their first year in a nursing home. It will jointly assess the meaning that people ascribe to institutionalization experience. The sample consisted of seven (7) older adults, including six females and one male, cognitively intact, with one year or less living in a nursing home in the southern region of Puerto Rico. The study discussed the adaptation process, their feelings, and the meaning they attribute to the experience.