Informal Caregivers As Long-Term Care Providers: Differential Experiences By Gender

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Navaie-Waliser ◽  
Aubrey L. Spriggs ◽  
Penny H. Feldman

Long-term care for older adults is highly affect by the COVID-19 outbreak. The objective of this rapid review is to understand what we can learn from previous crises or disasters worldwide to optimize the care for older adults in long term care facilities during the outbreak of COVID-19. We searched five electronic databases to identify potentially relevant articles. In total, 23 articles were included in this study. Based on the articles, it appeared that nursing homes benefit from preparing for the situation as best as they can. For instance, by having proper protocols and clear division of tasks and collaboration within the organization. In addition, it is helpful for nursing homes to collaborate closely with other healthcare organizations, general practitioners, informal caregivers and local authorities. It is recommended that nursing homes pay attention to capacity and employability of staff and that they support or relieve staff where possible. With regard to care for the older adults, it is important that staff tries to find a new daily routine in the care for residents as soon as possible. Some practical tips were found on how to communicate with people who have dementia. Furthermore, behavior of people with dementia may change during a crisis. We found tips for staff how to respond and act upon behavior change. After the COVID-19 outbreak, aftercare for staff, residents, and informal caregivers is essential to timely detect psychosocial problems. The consideration between, on the one hand, acute safety and risk reduction (e.g. by closing residential care facilities and isolating residents), and on the other hand, the psychosocial consequences for residents and staff, were discussed in case of other disasters. Furthermore, the search of how to provide good (palliative) care and to maintain quality of life for older adults who suffer from COVID-19 is also of concern to nursing home organizations. In the included articles, the perspective of older adults, informal caregivers and staff is often lacking. Especially the experiences of older adults, informal caregivers, and nursing home staff with the care for older adults in the current situation, are important in formulating lessons about how to act before, during and after the coronacrisis. This may further enhance person-centered care, even in times of crisis. Therefore, we recommend to study these experiences in future research.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Young

In Ontario long-term care (LTC) settings, person-centred care (PCC) is promoted by government legislation, accreditation organizations and professional practice guidelines aiming to integrate this approach. However, there is currently no standardized approach to providing PCC in LTC. The purpose of this study was to examine public policies on PCC in Ontario and explore how they are interpreted and translated into practice in LTC. A qualitative case study approach was used to examine the perspectives of key stakeholders at one LTC facility in Ontario. Focus groups were conducted with residents, family members, direct care providers and managers. Through content analysis, findings were organized into four categories showcasing both overlapping and differential understandings of PCC in practice: 1) conceptualization, 2) barriers, 3) facilitators, and 4) evaluation. Identified tensions between policy and the delivery of PCC highlight systemic issues that must be addressed to enable equitable person-centred LTC rooted in resident-identified priorities.


2022 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Aviad Tur-Sinai ◽  
Andrea Teti ◽  
Alexander Rommel ◽  
Valentina Hlebec ◽  
Stecy Yghemonos ◽  
...  

Abstract To promote long-term care policies for older adults, accurate mapping of the often invisible and insufficiently recognized role of their informal caregivers is needed. This paper measures the prevalence of informal caregivers in the European population, illustrates current difficulties in gathering unequivocal information on this topic and deals with the scientific and policy implications of the problem. Using the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) and the Study on Health and Ageing in Europe (SHARE), the current difficulties in gathering unequivocal information on this topic are illustrated. In most countries, the share of informal caregivers varies, sometimes markedly, among the three surveys. As for the sex of caregivers, while confirming the well-known higher prevalence of caregivers among women than among men, large variations emerge across the three surveys in most countries in respect of the two sexes. The takeaway message of the paper is that it is urgent to promote international concerted action in gathering comprehensive informal caregiving information and/or exploring in greater depth the different intercultural understandings of informal care itself.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Kononowech ◽  
Zach Landis-Lewis ◽  
Joan Carpenter ◽  
Mary Ersek ◽  
Robert Hogikyan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Process mapping is often used in quality improvement work to examine current processes and workflow and to identify areas to intervene to improve quality. Our objective in this paper is to describe process maps as a visual means of understanding modifiable behaviors and activities, in this case example to ensure that goals of care conversations are part of admitting a veteran in long-term care settings. Methods We completed site visits to 6 VA nursing homes and reviewed their current admission processes. We conducted interviews to document behaviors and activities that occur when a veteran is referred to a long-term care setting, during admission, and during mandatory VA reassessments. We created visualizations of the data using process mapping approaches. Process maps for each site were created to document the admission activities for each VA nursing home and were reviewed by the research team to identify consistencies across sites and to identify potential opportunities for implementing goals of care conversations. Results We identified five consistent behaviors that take place when a veteran is referred and admitted in long-term care. These behaviors are assessing, discussing, decision-making, documenting, and re-assessing. Conclusions Based on the process maps, it seems feasible that the LST note and order template could be completed along with other routine assessment processes. However, this will require more robust multi-disciplinary collaboration among both prescribing and non-prescribing health care providers. Completing the LST template during the current admission process would increase the likelihood that the template is completed in a timely manner, potentially alleviate the perceived time burden, and help with the provision of veteran-centered care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 792-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Villalobos Dintrans

Abstract Population aging is driving a process of increase in long-term care needs in Chile and many countries around the world. In this context, this article asks about the consequences of this increase in informal caregivers, emphasizing the inequity issues arising from these changes. Using the CASEN 2017 survey, caregivers are identified and matched to people with long-term care needs. Results show that most caregivers are women, and a large fraction of them are also elderly; this is similar to what has been found previously in developed countries. Caregivers have fewer opportunities than non-caregivers, which translates into lower income-generating ability and higher poverty. The nature of these tasks creates a vicious cycle in which people get trapped with increasing needs and fewer resources to meet them. Important differences arise between caregivers and the rest of the population. Even more concerning is that these disparities are avoidable to some extent, adding an equity dimension to the problem. This emphasizes the need for the generation of policies that will support caregivers and meet their needs.


Author(s):  
Jessica Penn Lendon ◽  
Christine Caffrey ◽  
Denys T Lau

Abstract Objectives Adult day services centers (ADSCs) may serve as an entrée to advance care planning. This study examined state requirements for ADSCs to provide advance directives (ADs) information to ADSC participants, ADSCs’ awareness of requirements, ADSCs’ practice of providing AD information, and their associations with the percentage of participants with ADs. Methods Using the 2016 National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, analyses included 3,305 ADSCs that documented ADs in participants’ files. Bivariate and linear regression analyses were conducted. Results Nine states had a requirement to provide AD information. About 80.8% of ADSCs provided AD information and 41.3% of participants had documented ADs. There were significant associations between state requirements, awareness, and providing information with AD prevalence. State requirement was mediated by awareness. Discussion This study found many ADSCs provided AD information, and ADSCs that thought their state had a requirement and provided information was associated with AD prevalence, regardless of state requirements.


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine S. McGilton ◽  
Souraya Sidani ◽  
Veronique M. Boscart ◽  
Sepali Guruge ◽  
Maryanne Brown

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document