Health promotion in nursing homes. Perceptions of decision-makers

Nursing care insurance should stimulate healthy organizational development processes in order to strengthen the health resources of people who are in need of in-patient care. The perceptions of decision-makers in the nursing homes were of interest. Between July and September 2016, 17 business directors and 4 nursing managers of different sponsorships and size were interviewed. Decision-makers hoped for an improvement of the financial situation in the homes. They view the possibility of universal prevention and the participation of inhabitants as unrealistic. They also see the presentation of such a process administrated through nursing care insurance rather skeptically. More optimistic perceptions of committed decision-makers of other nursing homes can be possible and changes are likely. However, arguments of why managers of nursing facilities should support such a process are still lacking. This could become easier with the thorough inclusion of workplace health promotion.