Close care provider-resident relationships in long-term care environments

The purpose of this study was to analyse perceptions of residents, family and care providers, with regard to close care provider-resident relationships in long-term care.

The nature of care provider-resident relationships in long-term care is crucial to the quality of life of residents. Clinical observations and anecdotal evidence suggest that close relationships exist between residents and care providers. However, research exploring how these relationships are defined and measured is only in an early stage of development.

The study employed a descriptive design.

Twenty-five residents and their family and 32 care providers (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and health care aides) from two units in a long-term care facility were interviewed separately and asked to comment on whether they perceived themselves to be in a close care provider-resident relationship. All transcripts were analysed using a comparative method.

Care providers perceived the closeness of relationships by the degree of reciprocity they experienced with their residents and by their emotional connection with them. Residents defined close relationships with care providers based on the care providers' caring attitude and behaviours. Family determined the closeness of relationships between their relatives and care providers according to the positive effects of the care providers' behaviours on their relatives' well being. In addition, care providers, residents and family accredited different factors as influencing the closeness of the care provider-resident relationship.

Care providers, residents and family members defined close care provider-resident relationships differently. All groups spoke about the need for connectedness, but mentioned inadequate staffing and workload as barriers to care providers being able to create time for meaningful one-on-one relationships.

These results have implications for how close care provider-resident relationships are conceptualized and measured and, ultimately, for enhancing resident care in long-term care facilities.