Resident-Centered Care in 10 U.S. Nursing Homes: Residents’ Perspectives

Evaluating effects of meal delivery on the ability of homebound older adults to remain in the community via a pragmatic, two-arm, randomized comparative effectiveness trial: study protocol for the Deliver-EE trial

BACKGROUND

As food insecurity and healthcare costs are linked, healthcare entities (i.e., providers, healthcare systems, insurers) are increasingly interested in identifying and providing solutions to address food insecurity among their patients. Home-delivered meals are one long-standing solution to address food insecurity among homebound older adults. However, there is limited evidence about what mode of delivery is most effective in promoting community independence, reducing healthcare utilization, and improving quality of life as well as how these outcomes may vary as a function of people's preferences for how meals are delivered to them.

METHODS

With extensive stakeholder input, we designed and implemented a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study in which we will enroll 2300 older adults on waiting lists at home-delivered meals programs across the country and randomize them to receive for 6 months, either (1) weekday lunchtime meals delivered by a local volunteer or driver who also provides socialization and wellness checks or (2) biweekly delivery of 10 frozen meals to participants' homes. Participant data will be combined with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data to calculate post-randomization institutional vs. community days. Baseline and 3-month surveys will evaluate secondary outcomes (e.g., food insecurity, loneliness, quality of life) and exploratory outcomes (e.g., nutritional risk). To examine heterogeneity of treatment effects, we will test for interactions between the two types of meal delivery and participants' preferred mode of meal delivery as well as participants' living arrangements.

DISCUSSION

This research will be the first to prospectively evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the two predominant meal delivery options. The knowledge generated from this research will be of value to healthcare providers, health systems, payers, community-based organizations, older adults, and their families, because it will identify the mode of meal delivery that best meets homebound older adults' needs and promotes community independence. In addition, the experience of working closely with stakeholders in designing and conducting this trial will be useful to researchers seeking to engage with stakeholders in the development and evaluation of complex social service interventions while balancing regulatory, resource, and human subjects research considerations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov.  NCT05357261 . Registered on May 02, 2022.

Older peoples' lived experiences of personalised care in care homes: A meta-ethnography

BACKGROUND

Guidance and policy on personalised (or person-centred) care of older people living in care homes advocates that all residents must have their preferences considered, and that all care provided must be reasonably adjusted to meet the person's specific needs. Despite this, research that considers what matters to residents in terms of the care they receive is limited.

OBJECTIVES

Our review aims to explore care home residents' lived experiences of personalised care and understand what really matters to them.

METHODS

Six electronic databases (CINHAL, Medline (Ovid), Embase, PubMed, Web of Science & PsychInfo) and Google Scholar (grey literature) were searched to identify qualitative studies relating to personalised care in care home settings, which also included resident (voices) quotes. The literature review and synthesis are reported using eMERGe guidance.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria for our meta-ethnography. Four conceptual categories (the challenge of fitting into institutional care, the passing of time, holding onto a sense of self and a desire to feel at home) and two key concepts (creating a culture of purposeful living and caring and forming and maintaining meaningful & empowering relationships) were identified. Finally, a conceptual framework of understanding represents what personally matters to residents in terms of their care.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-ethnography, guided by residents' lived experiences of personalised care, offers a new perspective of what personally matters to residents in terms of the care they receive. The conceptual framework of understanding highlights the importance of moving from an institutional position of doing for residents to a person-centred position of doing with residents.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the differences between personalised and person-centred care for policy and practice. Further considerations are required on how this might be applied through nurse and care home professionals' education and work practices.

A Mixed Methods Study to Implement the Synergy Tool and Evaluate Its Impact on Long-Term Care Residents

BACKGROUND

There are ongoing workforce challenges with the delivery of long-term care (LTC), such as staffing decisions based on arbitrary standards. The Synergy tool, a resident-centered approach to staffing, provides objective, real-time acuity and dependency scores (Synergy scores) for residents. The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate the impact of the Synergy tool on LTC delivery.

METHODS

A longitudinal mixed methods study took place within two publicly funded LTC homes in British Columbia, Canada. Quantitative data included weekly Synergy scores for residents (24 weeks), monthly aggregated resident falls data (18 months) and a six-month economic evaluation. Qualitative data were gathered from family caregivers and thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

Quantitative findings from Synergy scores revealed considerable variability for resident acuity/dependency needs within and across units; and falls decreased during implementation. The six-month economic evaluation demonstrated some cost savings by comparing Synergy tool training and implementation costs with savings from resident fall rate reductions. Qualitative analyses yielded three positive impact themes (improved care delivery, better communication, and improved resident-family-staff relationships), and two negative structural themes (language barrier and staff shortages).

CONCLUSIONS

The Synergy tool provides useful data for enhancing a 'fit' between resident needs and available staff.

A Meta-Synthesis Study of Person-Centered Care Experience from the Perspective of Nursing Home Residents

PURPOSE

To systematically review and synthesize the evidence for the experience of person-centered care from the perspective of nursing home residents to understand their views in depth.

METHODS

The seven steps of Nobit and Hare's meta-ethnography, a well-known meta-synthesis method, were applied. We used four databases for the literature search (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and CINAHL).

RESULTS

A total of seven studies were included for review. As a result of synthesizing the results, three themes ("promotion of mutual understanding through communication", "care that acknowledges the independence of residents" and "finding the optimized state") and six sub-themes were derived.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has provided an in-depth understanding of person-centered care and will contribute to increasing its practical application.

Sexual expression involving people with dementia living in long-term care facilities: staff's reactions

This study aims to explore and compare the reaction of long-term care staff towards situations of sexual intercourse in which one or both partners have dementia. Participants were 538 staff members at 28 Portuguese long-term care facilities. Data were collected using a printed questionnaire with seven vignettes with situations related to the sexuality of LTCF residents. In this study, three of these vignettes were analysed with situations in which residents were having relationships in their bedrooms: (1) one male resident and one female resident; (2) two residents with dementia; (3) two residents, one of them with dementia. For each of the vignettes, participants are asked what they think their 'colleagues' would do in each vignette, i.e. 'What do you think most of your colleagues would do?' The results revealed that when sexual relationships involved both partners living with dementia, the most selected reaction was 'Comment on what happened with supervision or direction', which may suggest that the situation was perceived as difficult or problematic. The most restrictive reactions were most often chosen when only one partner had dementia. This study suggests the need to improve and provide training, so that staff have knowledge and strategies that allow people living with dementia to preserve their sexual rights in long-term care facilities.

Predictors of change over time in satisfaction with outdoor activities ratings among long-term care services and supports recipients

OBJECTIVES

To identify predictors of change in older adults' satisfaction with outdoor activities ratings over the first two years of enrollment in long-term services and supports (LTSS).

METHODS

Self-rated satisfaction with outdoor activities (not at all satisfied to extremely satisfied) was the primary outcome of this secondary data analysis. Mixed-effects linear regression modeling with a backward elimination process was used for analyses.

RESULTS

In the final model (N = 453) older LTSS recipients at baseline had lower ratings of satisfaction with outdoor activities over time, whereas younger recipients had higher ratings over time. Those who moved into a residential facility at baseline had an increase in outdoor activity satisfaction ratings over time compared to older adults who received home and community-based services that had a decrease.

DISCUSSION

LTSS clinicians can use these findings to support older adults with decision-making around enrollment into LTSS, address preferences, and develop person-centered care interventions for outdoor activity.

Older Adults' Engagement in Residential Care: Pitfalls, Potentials, and the Role of ICTs

Over the previous years, the residential care sector has gone through a transition from a rather paternalistic approach towards a more democratic way of caregiving. Nevertheless, many care organizations still find it challenging to engage their residents in the process of care. In this study, we investigated the challenges regarding the engagement of older adults in residential care. As recent studies indicated the increasing opportunities of ICTs, we paid particular attention to this in the process of engagement. We followed a participatory action research approach among caregivers and older adults at a somatic care department in a care residence in the Netherlands. Methods used included 15 participants in two homogeneous group sessions, reflections on action in practice, and one mixed focus group. Our findings show that both caregivers and older adults acknowledge the importance of engagement in daily care. However, their different perspectives on how this should take place, made the actual engagement of older adults a challenge. We determined three dilemmas complicating this engagement in care, and labeled these (1) autonomy versus dependence; (2) personal experiences versus privacy; and (3) happiness versus honesty. We found different ways of how caregivers and older adults deal with these dilemma’s in practice and defined these in terms of pitfalls and potentials. ICTs were shown to reinforce both the pitfalls and potentials. Paying attention to these challenges in residential care, including how caregivers and older adults deal with these challenges, will encourage a mutual understanding and actual engagement in decisions on daily care. Further research is recommended on the role of organizations’ management, older adults’ relatives, or older adults with cognitive impairments.

The Conceptual Structure of the Management by Nurses of the Ego Integrity of Residents of Nursing Homes

BACKGROUND

The number of older people admitted to nursing homes has continued to rise with the recent expansion of the Republic of Korea's long-term care system. Maintaining ego integrity is a major task for older people approaching the end of life. As efforts to maintain ego integrity include the final stages of life, this concept is critically important for older people in nursing homes. This study was designed to assess issues related to ego integrity in the nursing home environment to determine how nurses should play a key role in managing this important life task.

PURPOSE

The management by nurses of the ego integrity of residents of nursing homes is a new phenomenon that is central to promoting long-term, quality care. This study was designed to clarify and conceptualize this management phenomenon in the context of nursing homes.

METHODS

A hybrid model of concept development was used to analyze the ways in which nurses manage the ego integrity of residents of nursing homes. In the theoretical phase, a working definition of the management by nurses of residents' ego integrity is developed using a literature review. In the fieldwork phase, in-depth interviews are conducted with eight nurses from six nursing homes in Seoul and three other provinces. Finally, in the final analytical phase, the theoretical and fieldwork findings are interpreted and compared.

RESULTS

Two components, assessment and intervention, of the approach by nurses to managing the ego integrity of residents of nursing homes were identified. Assessment incorporates 10 attributes in the following three dimensions: "identifying the extent to which residents' basic needs are being fulfilled," "determining how residents achieve friendly relationships with others," and "determining how each resident creates a harmonious view of his or her life." Intervention incorporates nine attributes in the following two dimensions: "helping residents develop a positive view of life" and "helping residents make the best use of their remaining functional abilities."

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

By managing the ego integrity of residents, nurses have a significant influence on residents' sociopsychological adaptation, especially in the challenging environment of a nursing home. This study supports that managing the ego integrity of residents of nursing homes is an important and practical component of the role played by nurses and of the aid and care they provide. Furthermore, the findings verify the effectiveness of intervention studies in examining assessment tools and developing guidelines for ego-integrity management.

Satisfaction With Outdoor Activities Among Northeastern U.S. Newly Enrolled Long-Term Services and Supports Recipients

Older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) experience barriers to outdoor activities and satisfaction ratings with such experiences are not well understood. Our study used cross-sectional data (n = 329) to (a) examine whether those new to LTSS were satisfied with their outdoor activities and (b) describe the characteristics and factors associated with satisfaction levels. Self-report of satisfaction with outdoor activities was the outcome variable. Multivariable linear regression modeling of the outcome was conducted. Fifty-nine percent were satisfied with their outdoor activities. More depressive symptoms (p < .001) and higher cognitive functioning (p = .011) were associated with lower ratings. Higher self-rated physical health (p = .009) and more independence with activities of daily living (p = .022) were associated with greater satisfaction. Findings suggest an unmet need among four in 10 new recipients of LTSS (41%) related to their outdoor activities. LTSS interdisciplinary teams can use these findings to inform their assessments, develop person-centered care plans, and address barriers.

Person-centred Australian residential aged care services: how well do actions match the claims?

Recent inquiries into residential aged care services, including the 2018–2019 Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, have informed revisions to the 2019 Australian Aged Care Quality Standards. Reforms to the Standards include a greater focus on person-centred services, consumer-directed care and authentic participation in decision-making on service provision by residents and their family members. In respect of person-centred services, the revised Standards reflect the four elements of the ‘Valuing, Individualised Care, Personal Perspective, Social Environment’ (or VIPS) framework for quality aged (social) care services in the United Kingdom. This qualitative study investigated whether the quality of services in a convenience sample of seven Australian aged care homes, which claimed to be person-centred, aligned with the four elements and 24 indicators of the VIPS framework. Data were obtained via semi-structured interviews with a volunteer sample of people associated with these seven aged care homes: 12 residents, 15 family members and 18 staff members in various roles. Data were analysed deductively with a priori reference to the 24 VIPS framework indicators, achieving data saturation for four common themes which indicated more person-centredness and ten common themes indicating less person-centredness. Only two of seven homes adhered to the four elements and 24 indicators of the VIPS framework across most service offerings. The remaining five homes offered some aspects of a person-centred service. The study findings provide insight to the factors which support and hamper the implementation of the VIPS-informed indicators of a person-centred aged care service and, therefore, what is needed to help meet person-centred requirements as outlined in the 2019 Australian Aged Care Quality Standards.

Person-Centered Sexual Expression: Determining Preferences of Future Nursing Home Residents

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Approaches to sexual expression in nursing homes are often devoid of person-centered components, such as resident choice. Little is known about residents' preferences for sexual and intimate expression across different situations. To evaluate future resident preferences, a convenience sample of 389 midlife and older adults in the United States were assessed for their perceptions of appropriateness of sexual and intimate activity among couples in nursing homes, given certain situational factors (e.g., cognitive impairment, relationship status, assent behaviors).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A randomized experimental vignette design was implemented to determine situational factors that influence future resident preferences for sexual expression in nursing homes. Data were analyzed via multilevel modeling, allowing for multiple vignette ratings to be nested among respondents.

RESULTS

Behavioral indications of assent, level of intimacy between the couple, and age of respondent affected respondents' ratings of appropriateness of sexual and intimate activities. Also, cognition and relationship levels interacted for more nuanced effects on activity appropriateness.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Future resident preferences are often incongruent with attitudes and common practices for approaching sexual expression in nursing home settings. This marks a unique opportunity for person-centered policy development and implementation in the realm of sexual expression.

The Effects of Nursing Home Culture Change on Resident Quality of Life in U.S. Nursing Homes: An Integrative Review

Culture change is intended to transform nursing homes from impersonal institutions into person-centered homes. Despite a growing interest in studying culture change, empirical evidence for its effects on quality of life (QOL) has not been synthesized. The current integrative review examined how QOL outcomes were measured in culture change studies and analyzed the current evidence for culture change effects on QOL. Guided by a conceptual framework, this review systematically searched for literature in multiple databases and identified 11 eligible studies. QOL measures varied across studies, ranging from overall perception of life to specific measures associated with physical and psychosocial well-being. Overall, culture change demonstrated a positive trend in benefiting QOL. Although inconsistent evidence existed for most QOL measures, relatively consistent evidence was found to support positive effects on resident satisfaction and autonomy. Rigorous designs are needed for future studies to generate strong evidence. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Resident Preferences and CNA Empowerment: Testing Validity and Reliability of a Culture Change Survey Tool

Culture change (CC) is an innovation to improve nursing home resident quality of life. Inconsistencies in how CC is measured make the interpretation of findings inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to determine the underlying factors of CC among Ohio nursing homes to extract the core essence of CC. Data from the 2015 Ohio Biennial Survey of Long-Term Care Facilities with n = 721 nursing homes answering a CC module comprising of 21 questions are included in an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). EFA results identified two underlying factors of CC that are extracted using principal factor method. These factors include items related to resident preferences for care (RPC) and certified nursing assistant (CNA) empowerment. This study presents two valid and reliable scales to advance the measurement of CC. These scales can be used to explore both RPC and CNA empowerment components as predictors or outcomes.

The Resident VIEW in Nursing Homes

This article presents the Resident VIEW (Voicing Importance, Experience, and Well-Being), a measure designed to learn directly from long-term care residents the extent to which they experience support that matters most to them. The Resident VIEW contains 63 items across eight domains developed through cognitive interviews with residents in different types of residential settings (e.g., nursing homes, assisted living, and adult foster care). Residents rate items on both importance and their experience. In total, 258 nursing home residents living in 32 Oregon nursing homes were selected through a two-stage random sampling design and participated in the study. Results demonstrate that what matters most to residents varies, emphasizing the value of asking residents directly about their preferences. The relationship between importance and experience differed by item. Residents who experienced support rated very important within some domains, reported better quality of life and reported lower levels of depressive symptoms than those who did not experience these things. The interaction between importance and experience, however, did not reach statistical significance, suggesting that positive experiences may provide benefit even in some areas that are not perceived as important by residents. Results underscore the value of incorporating the resident perspective into measure development in long-term care.

Health personnel's experience with resident-centered care in nursing homes in Korea: A qualitative study

Objectives

Changing the culture in nursing homes in South Korea comes with challenges, and the key issues of resident-centered care have been described. This study aims to describe health personnel's experience in providing resident-centered care in nursing homes.

Methods

Qualitative data were collected through individual and focus group interviews consisting of registered nurses (n = 4), certified nurse assistants (n = 2), and long-term caregivers (n = 12) working at nursing homes in South Korea. The participants (n = 18) completed the interviews from May to June 2018, and all interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by employing the content analysis method.

Results

Five main categories are conceptualized: (1) residents’ participation in decision making, (2) the sharing of the history and story of residents, (3) the recognition of facility- or task-based attitudes, (4) the guarantee of private time and space for residents, and (5) the need for standardized guidelines.

Conclusions

Results corroborate that health personnel regard resident-centered care as a desirable nursing paradigm. However, facility- or task-centered care is the most effective in hectic situations. A standardized protocol on the application of resident-centered care based on the facility-tailored specification is unavailable. Therefore, health personnel's perception and practice of resident-centered care can differ. Efficient nursing intervention programs should be developed after clarifying facility culture.

Meanings of 'centredness' in long-term care facilities: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

There is a growing demand for long-term care services for older adults that embrace a model of care centred on individual recipients of care. In long-term care, models of person, resident and relationship-centred care have been developed and implemented to promote independence, decision making and choices of residents. Although the concepts of centredness have been readily adopted in these environments, what constitutes centredness is often vague and lacks conceptual clarity and definition. The research questions guiding this scoping review are: (1) What are the defining attributes, conceptual boundaries and theoretical underpinnings of each centredness term in long-term care? (2) For what purposes have centredness directed models of care been used in this context? (3) What types of study designs have been used to examine centredness in this context? (4) What outcomes related to centredness have been reported or evaluated and how were they measured in long-term care?

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This review uses the methodological framework for conducting a scoping review by Arksey and O'Malley. The search strategy will be applied to nine bibliographic and citation databases, Google Scholar and the grey literature. Study selection will occur in a two-step process. First, the titles and abstracts of all search results will be screened by individual reviewers. Second, a full-text review will be conducted by a pair of reviewers. To be included articles must (1) define centredness in the context of long-term care; (2) describe the defining features of centredness; (3) explore the theoretical underpinnings of centredness; (4) outline outcomes of centredness or (5) use outcome measures related to centredness. Data will be extracted from included studies and analysed using thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clark.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Research ethics approval is not required for this scoping review. Dissemination strategies will follow a targeted and tailored approach based on study findings.

Does Person-Centered Care Improve Residents' Satisfaction With Nursing Home Quality?

OBJECTIVE

Person-centered care (PCC) is meant to enhance nursing home residents' quality of life (QOL). Including residents' perspectives is critical to determining whether PCC is meeting residents' needs and desires. This study examines whether PCC practices promote satisfaction with QOL and quality of care and services (QOC and QOS) among nursing home residents.

DESIGN

A longitudinal, retrospective cohort study using an in-person survey.

SETTING

Three hundred twenty nursing homes in Kansas enrolled or not enrolled in a pay-for-performance program, Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas (PEAK 2.0), to promote PCC in nursing homes.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 6214 nursing home residents in 2013-2014 and 5538 residents in 2014-2015, with a Brief Interview for Mental Status score ≥8, participated in face-to-face interviews. Results were aggregated to the nursing home level.

MEASUREMENTS

My InnerView developed a Resident Satisfaction Survey for Kansas composed of 32 questions divided into QOL, QOC, QOS, and global satisfaction subdomains.

RESULTS

After controlling for facility characteristics, satisfaction with overall QOL and QOC was higher in homes that had fully implemented PCC. Although some individual measures in the QOS domain (eg, food) showed greater satisfaction at earlier levels of implementation, high satisfaction was observed primarily in homes that had fully implemented PCC.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of PCC implementation on nursing home resident satisfaction. The PEAK 2.0 program may provide replicable methods for nursing homes and states to implement PCC systematically.