Perspectives of substitute decision‐makers and staff about person‐centred physical activity in long‐term care

Abstract

Introduction: This paper aims to explore the care processes that best exemplify personcentred care during physical activity (PA) for long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia from the perspectives of substitute decision-makers (SDMs) and LTC home staff. Little is known about how person-centred care is reflected during PA for residents with dementia, or the barriers and benefits to enacting person-centred care during PA. Methods: Semistructured interviews were used to collect SDMs and LTC home staffs' perspectives on the importance of person-centred care during PA from two LTC homes in Canada. The McCormack and McCance person-centredness framework was used to guide thematic content analysis of responses. Results: SDM (n = 26) and staff (n = 21) identified actions categorized under the sympathetic presence or engagement care processes from the person-centredness framework as most reflecting person-centred care. Benefits of person-centred care during PA were categorized into three themes: functional and physical, behavioural and communication and psychosocial improvements. Barriers to person-centred care during PA identified were lack of time, opportunities for meaningful activity in LTC setting and staff experiences with resident aggression. Significance: Understanding the care processes that are most recognized as personcentred care and valued by SDMs and LTC home staff has implications for education and training. Insights into SDMs' care expectations regarding person-centred care can inform staff about which actions should be prioritized to meet care expectations and can foster relationships to the benefit of residents with dementia.

‘I want him to tell me he loves me’: A smart audio device, Tochie, for resident‐family connection in long‐term care

“…Studies have shown that that older adults have a positive attitudes towards using smart technologies to help maintain health, independence and communication (Choi et al, 2021). However, the implementation of technology in long‐term care (LTC) settings is complex due to the need for staff assistance and the added workload it creates (Chu, Quan, et al, 2021). While the use of assistive technology in community settings for older adults has been studied (Choi et al, 2021; Lee, 2014; Skubic et al, 2016; Tural et al, 2021), the feasibility and acceptability of implementing of using such technology in LTC settings remains an under‐researched area (Pappadà et al, 2021).…”

Disrupting patterns of exclusion in participatory spaces: Involving people from vulnerable populations

“…First, we consider who is in spaces for sharing decisions about research, services and policy in this special issue. There are papers with lead authors from seven countries: the United Kingdom, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Australia, [29][30][31][32][33] Canada, [34][35][36][37][38] the United States, 39,40 the Netherlands, 41,42 France 43 and Ecuador. 44 There are important examples involving people who experience homelessness, 22,23,34 people who have disabilities, 26,41,42 people who live in socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances 35,37 and people who are migrants and/or from ethnic minority groups.…”