Gundula Röhnsch1, Marcus Heumann2, Jonas Vorderwülbecke3, Kerstin Hämel2. 1. AG 6 Versorgungsforschung & Pflegewissenschaft, Fakultät für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Universität Bielefeld, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Deutschland. gundula.roehnsch@uni-bielefeld.de. 2. AG 6 Versorgungsforschung & Pflegewissenschaft, Fakultät für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Universität Bielefeld, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Deutschland. 3. Referat Krankenhäuser und Pflegeausbildung, Caritasverband für die Diözese Münster, Münster, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Opening nursing homes for and in the community not only promotes the inclusion of the residents. Likewise, older people living close to the homes could benefit if the nursing homes offer support for them as well. This article focuses on the extent to which "nursing homes" succeed in contributing to the continuity of care for older people in the community by developing into "centers". METHODS: Episodic interviews with users/relatives and expert interviews were conducted as part of the evaluation of the project "Long-term care institutions - further thinking!". A secondary analysis of interviews was conducted by means of structuring content analysis; the views of users and experts were triangulated on a metalevel. RESULTS: Users and relatives refer to three types of continuity of care in the facilities-management, relational and informational. In this respect, sustainable relationships with professionals in the facilities are just as important to them as "custom fitted" care offers even in the case of intensified need for support. Some family caregivers desire a more reliable flow of information between them and the professionals. It is also important for the experts interviewed that the facilities cover the entire spectrum of continuity of care; however, they underestimate the need of relatives in particular to be involved in care as informal carers. CONCLUSION: Nursing homes can contribute to strengthening continuity of care in the community by expanding their range of services. They should take the diversity of different user groups into account.
BACKGROUND: Opening nursing homes for and in the community not only promotes the inclusion of the residents. Likewise, older people living close to the homes could benefit if the nursing homes offer support for them as well. This article focuses on the extent to which "nursing homes" succeed in contributing to the continuity of care for older people in the community by developing into "centers". METHODS: Episodic interviews with users/relatives and expert interviews were conducted as part of the evaluation of the project "Long-term care institutions - further thinking!". A secondary analysis of interviews was conducted by means of structuring content analysis; the views of users and experts were triangulated on a metalevel. RESULTS: Users and relatives refer to three types of continuity of care in the facilities-management, relational and informational. In this respect, sustainable relationships with professionals in the facilities are just as important to them as "custom fitted" care offers even in the case of intensified need for support. Some family caregivers desire a more reliable flow of information between them and the professionals. It is also important for the experts interviewed that the facilities cover the entire spectrum of continuity of care; however, they underestimate the need of relatives in particular to be involved in care as informal carers. CONCLUSION: Nursing homes can contribute to strengthening continuity of care in the community by expanding their range of services. They should take the diversity of different user groups into account.
Entities:
Keywords:
Care dependency; Community healthcare; Continuity of care; Interview; User’s views