The purpose of this ethnographic, narrative inquiry was to explore the transformative function of writing in the lives of persons living in a nursing home. For three years I studied a nursing home writing group, individual writers, and their family members. Nursing homes are places where various factors such as ageism and extreme physical and mental frailty create barriers to freedom of expression. In such a context, what does it mean to be a writer, and, by becoming a writer does a person feel any differently about her or himself? In what ways does writing function as a vehicle for interpreting the social world? Are members of a nursing home writing group able to, through reflection and dialogue, begin to perceive their lives and their places in the world differently? In what ways does writing transform relationships between the writer and staff, the writer and family, and the writer with other writers and residents? These are the questions that guided my study.

I used multiple methods to collect information: the writers' written products, observational fieldnotes, transcriptions of interviews, and other sources of documentation. The findings indicated that the writing group members experienced positive transformations in their lives including recognition as valued members of society and of their families, an increased sense of pride, and a feeling that they were making a lasting contribution. The writers' stories were often attempts to relate to Self, to their colleagues, to their families, and to the world outside the walls of the nursing home. Relationships were formed or strengthened by the stories as writers shared deeply felt emotions and values and expressed opinions and thoughts on a variety of current and historical issues. The writings helped to shape the identity of the individual writers and of the group, and formed a community bound by words. A nursing home writing group provides a unique opportunity for expression and for finding meaning in a world which is often bereft of purpose.