Preventable? Long-Term Care Policy Successes and Failures During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Literature Review

Abstract The number of older adults who live in long-term care (LTC) is expected to increase worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious consequences in Canadian LTC homes, while homes in China and Japan reported minimal infection and death rates in residents. The differences in LTC policies may be one of the contributors. The purpose of this literature review was to identify elements of the LTC policies that might have impacted COVID-19 outcomes in LTC homes in Canada, China, and Japan. A scoping review was conducted following the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. Scholarly articles and grey literature published between January 2015 and June 2020 were identified in six databases, four in English (CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest, and PubMed), one in Chinese (CNKI), and one in Japanese (CiNii), using MeSH terms for LTC and health policy. Grey literature was identified using Google. Data were extracted, summarized and common themes identified through content analysis. A total of 52 articles and 26 grey sources were included in the review based on determined inclusion criteria. They were research articles, reviews, government or association reports, policy briefs, policy documents, and guides. Four common themes of challenges emerged: caregiver workforce, service provision, funding, and physical environments. Three sub-themes were identified for caregiver workforce and service provision. Differences in COVID-19 consequences in LTC homes in the three countries seem to be related mainly to the challenges with the caregiver workforce and the lack of funding. The result suggests Improvements of LTC policies are required, especially in Canada.

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An oxymoron of long-term care—Sheltering-in-place during an evacuation: A literature review of the best practices of evacuation and sheltering-in-place for long-term care facilities

Journal of Emergency Management ◽

10.5055/jem.2017.0328 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 195

Author(s):

Megan Baxter, MDEM

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Best Practices ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Term Care ◽

Medical Supplies ◽

Best Response ◽

Key Points ◽

Care Facilities

Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are defined as residential facilities that are home to elderly patrons who are no longer able to live independently. These facilities require comprehensive emergency planning to provide the best response to the threat of a disaster for their residents. However, LTCFs are often overlooked in disaster planning, leaving them to work independently to create suitable arrangements in the event of a disaster. This article examines the literature on evacuating and compares it to the literature on sheltering-in-place for LTCFs. Conclusions regarding best practices are also provided.Methods: A literature review and Internet search were completed in July 2016. Information was entered onto a spreadsheet listing the key points of each article, which was reviewed for emerging themes.Results: Out of the 399 acquired articles and grey literature found during the research portion of this article, 30 were deemed pertinent, 22 of which appear in this article. All included articles were peer reviewed. Themes emerging from these articles include the persistent absence of research into the best practices for LTCFs during emergencies and the difficulties of evacuating and sheltering-in-place with frail populations.Conclusion: While there is no one right answer for all scenarios, sheltering-in-place appears to be the default safe option for those in LTCFs—with the assumption that the facility has taken steps toward preparation, such as purchasing generators and securing enough food, water, and medical supplies to sustain the residents, staff, and families of both for 7 days. Additionally, a LTCF needs to devise contingency plans for evacuation if necessary, to be fully prepared for a catastrophic event.

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Literature Review on Empirical Studies of the Impact of Marketization on Quality of Care in Long-Term Care Sectors

Korea Gerontological Society ◽

10.31888/jkgs.2020.40.3.485 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 485-509

Author(s):

Mi Jin Lee ◽

Eun-Sun Joo

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Literature Review ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Term Care ◽

The Impact

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Long‐term care physical environments – effect on medication errors

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance ◽

10.1108/09526861211235928 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 431-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Atiya Mahmood ◽

Habib Chaudhury ◽

Alana Gaumont ◽

Tiana Rust

Keyword(s):

Medication Errors ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Term Care ◽

Physical Environments

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Evidence for Publicly Reported Quality Indicators in Residential Long-Term Care: A Systematic Review

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.586 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 181-181

Author(s):

Franziska Zúñiga ◽

Magdalena Osinska ◽

Franziska Zuniga

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Public Reporting ◽

Assessment Instrument ◽

Term Care ◽

Data Set ◽

Residential Long Term Care

Abstract Quality indicators (QIs) are used internationally to measure, compare and improve quality in residential long-term care. Public reporting of such indicators allows transparency and motivates local quality improvement initiatives. However, little is known about the quality of QIs. In a systematic literature review, we assessed which countries publicly report health-related QIs, whether stakeholders were involved in their development and the evidence concerning their validity and reliability. Most information was found in grey literature, with nine countries (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and five countries in Europe) publicly reporting a total of 66 QIs in areas like mobility, falls, pressure ulcers, continence, pain, weight loss, and physical restraint. While USA, Canada and New Zealand work with QIs from the Resident Assessment Instrument – Minimal Data Set (RAI-MDS), the other countries developed their own QIs. All countries involved stakeholders in some phase of the QI development. However, we only found reports from Canada and Australia on both, the criteria judged (e.g. relevance, influenceability), and the results of structured stakeholder surveys. Interrater reliability was measured for some RAI QIs and for those used in Germany, showing overall good Kappa values (>0.6) except for QIs concerning mobility, falls and urinary tract infection. Validity measures were only found for RAI QIs and were mostly moderate. Although a number of QIs are publicly reported and used for comparison and policy decisions, available evidence is still limited. We need broader and accessible evidence for a responsible use of QIs in public reporting.

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Long-term Care in China and Japan

The SAGE Handbook of Social Gerontology ◽

10.4135/9781446200933.n43 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 563-572

Author(s):

Yun Zhou ◽

Yuzhi Liu

Keyword(s):

Long Term Care ◽

Term Care ◽

China And Japan

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Reminiscence intervention for community-dwelling older adults without dementia: a literature review

British Journal of Community Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.1.40 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 40-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michele Shropshire

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Literature Review ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Cognitive Skills ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Positive Health ◽

Term Care

The aim of the present integrative literature review is to summarise empirical evidence supporting the positive health benefits of reminiscence intervention for older adults without dementia who reside in community and long-term care settings. Reminiscence intervention may be used to improve cognitive ability in older adults by prompting them to share life stories and recall past events. Using Garrard's matrix method, 15 studies were identified and included in this review, with a total of 815 participants. The health outcomes of reminiscence intervention for older adults residing in the community and long-term care settings were improvements in depressive symptoms; greater wellbeing, peace and life satisfaction; and improvements in quality of life, social engagement, anxiety and cognitive skills/memory. Non-pharmacological approaches such as reminiscence intervention may contribute to a rich base for reformulating cognitive interpretations, increasing cognitive abilities, and improving social skills among older adults.

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Current Status of the Long-term Care Security System for Older Adults in China

Research on Aging ◽

10.1177/0164027520949117 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 016402752094911

Author(s):

Peng Du ◽

Tingyue Dong ◽

Jingyao Ji

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Service Provision ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Care Service ◽

Security System ◽

Current Status ◽

Term Care ◽

Insurance System

In response to the increasing care demand of older adults and their families, the construction of the long-term care (LTC) security system has been widely recognized by the government, society and families. This article discusses the socio-demographic background, current situation, achievements and issues of this system. The LTC security system in China has achieved considerable progress in enriched service provision and expanded social insurance system pilot programs. However, the issues of unbalanced service provision and the explorative design of the insurance system still need to be resolved. Our recommendations for the development of the LTC security system include comprehensively reviewing the integrated care service system in terms of placing “old adults at the center,” addressing the long-standing divisions between urban and rural areas in service provision and insurance design, advancing research and discussion concerning pilot experiences and improving the unified evaluation and financial planning systems.

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Eastenders on the South Coast

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.17.6.344 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 344-346

Author(s):

Richard Duffett ◽

Claire Lawton

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Elderly People ◽

Mentally Ill ◽

Service Provision ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Local Authority ◽

Term Care ◽

Health Service Provision ◽

Care Of Elderly

In spite of the moves over the last 20 years towards community care, there remain substantial numbers of elderly people with both physical and mental illness who require residential, nursing home and hospital care. There is evidence to suggest that health service provision of long term care for the mentally ill has been, and continues to be, reduced. In addition there has been reduction in beds for long term care by geriatric physicians and while the nursing home and residential care sectors have expanded, this expansion has been entirely within the ‘independent’ private and voluntary sector, with considerable contraction of local authority provision. Representations have been made about this to the Old Age Section of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and they have reported on this (Benbow & Jolley, 1992). Concern has not been confined to the profession. Over the last year, there has been considerable media publicity about the long term care of elderly people in institutions. Some of this has been very critical [Panorama, 20.1.92] and has provoked debate on the pages of the national papers.

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