The experience of being listened to: a qualitative study of older adults in long-term care settings.

The experience of being listened to for older adults living in long-term care facilities was explored using a qualitative descriptive method outlined in Parse (2001), with the human becoming theory as the theoretical framework. The themes that emerged from this study--Nurturing Contentment, Vital Genuine Connections, and Deference Triumphs Mediocrity--affirmed the experience of being listened to as fundamental to the participants' quality of life. The findings expand nursing theory, provide enhanced understanding of the experience of being listened to, and offer ideas for future research. Through the voices of older adults participating in this study, the authors learn how critical listening is to quality care, and thus to excellence in nursing practice.