Perspective of family caregivers on self-care independence among older people living in long-term care facilities: A qualitative study

BackgroundLong-term care facilities have difficulty facilitating elders’ independent self-care. Promoting self-care independence among residents of long-term care facilities cannot be ignored and needs to be further understood.ObjectivesTo investigate how family caregivers’ perceived building self-care independence among elders living in long-term care facilities.DesignThis study used a qualitative descriptive approach. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 44 elders’ family caregivers.SettingsThe data was collected from family caregivers of elders living in long-term care facilities in southern Taiwan.ParticipantsEligibility criteria for family-caregivers were: (1) residents’ family members living in community settings, (2) able to speak Mandarin or Taiwanese, (3) willing to be tape-recorded during interviews, and (4) aged 18 and over.ResultsThe findings showed that three interrelated factors promoted self-care independence among residents in long-term care facilities. They included: (1) family members’ attitudes/behaviors and concerns, (2) residents’ characteristics and attitudes, and (3) staff's attitudes/behaviors. Hence, to promote elders’ self-care independence, family caregivers indicated that staff, family caregivers and elders should work together. This included: setting goals, building trustful relationships between staff and family caregivers, and routinely reporting the elder's condition to families.ConclusionThis study provided important information that, elders, family members, and staff caregivers of long-term care facilities should build a partnership and set a mutual goal, to improve self-care performance among residents in long-term care facilities.