Filling In: Family Member Support for Nonrelative Residents in Long-Term Care Homes

Background and Objectives Past research about family involvement in long-term care (LTC) homes mainly focuses on family members' involvement with their own relative, interactions with staff, and collective activities such as Family Councils. Our research provides novel insights into family member's involvement in the care of residents who are not their relatives, an area that has not previously been explored.Research Design and Methods This critical ethnographic study examined ways that family members negotiate and navigate their roles within LTC homes. Data collection and analysis took place at 3 LTC homes in British Columbia, Canada, between 2014 and 2018. Data were collected through participant observation and semistructured interviews. Eleven family member participants shared experiences of caring for residents who were not their relatives.Results The umbrella theme was filling in, which takes place in a care environment that is understaffed and underresourced. The subthemes reflect the various ways that families are filling in: responding to resident's needs, supporting staff to respond to resident needs, and filling in for residents' families.Discussion and Implications Caring for residents who are not their relatives is facet of family involvement in LTC homes that has not been previously explored. Many family members have expertise in providing person-centered care and they extend this expertise to residents who are not their relatives. Policies and legislation are needed to formalize family involvement in caring for nonrelative residents as it is a component of quality of care for all residents.

Automated summary

This study conducted a critical ethnographic research on the involvement of family members in LTC homes in British Columbia, Canada from 2014 to 2018. The findings reveal that family members play a crucial role in filling the gaps caused by understaffing and lack of resources in LTC homes. They respond to the needs of residents, support staff in meeting residents' needs, and provide care for residents who do not have their own family members present. Formal policies and legislation should be established to recognize and support family involvement in caring for nonrelative residents as it contributes to the overall quality of care.