Abstract: Objective: To construct a humanistic caring model based on Swanson's theory of caring and analyze its effects on the disabled elderly in nursing homes. Methods: Two nursing homes were randomly divided into the intervention group (n=49) and the control group (n=49). The control group received the original humanistic caring model of the nursing home, and the intervention group was offered the humanistic caring model in nursing homes based on Swanson's theory of caring. Loneliness, depression and quality of life were compared between the two groups before intervention, the 3 months and the 6 months after intervention, respectively. Results: The between-group effect, time effect and interaction effect of loneliness, depression and quality of life in the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The scores of loneliness in the intervention group 3 and 6 months after intervention were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the scores of depression and quality of life 6 months after intervention were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion: This humanistic caring model based on Swanson's theory of caring in nursing homes could effectively alleviate the loneliness and depression of the disabled elderly and improve their life quality.

Key words: Swanson's theory of caring; humanistic care; disabled elderly; nursing homes