Researchers have divided nursing home residents into long-stayers and short-stayers. While long-stayers rarely return home, they do not necessarily stay long in one institution. Instead, they may transfer from nursing home to nursing home. Although many studies have examined the impact of relocation on nursing home residents, few studies have analyzed reasons for this nomadism. A study of one nursing home was conducted to analyze reasons for nursing home transfers and to distinguish three types of transfers: (1) voluntary transfers where the resident hopes to improve his quality of life; (2) involuntary transfers where the nursing home seeks to transfer a specific resident; and (3) systemic involuntary transfers due to the nature of the hospital-nursing home discharge nexus. Social work case histories of 419 residents discharged between 1978 and 1984 from one proprietary Rhode Island nursing home were reviewed to discern the prevalence of inter-nursing home transfers and motivations. Of 98 residents who transferred, 54 did so because they expected to improve their quality of life by transferring. Twenty-five transferred because the nursing home did not want the resident. Many of these residents were considered combative, physically abusive to staff and other residents, or severely disoriented. Sixteen residents transferred because they forfeited their places when they were hospitalized. Data were missing on three transfers. A three-page list of references concludes the document. (NB)