Divergent views of placement decision-making: a qualitative case study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Healthcare Studies

Background:

• Family caregivers face complex decisions regarding long-term care placement for relatives with dementia.
• Understanding the perspectives of both caregivers and healthcare professionals is vital for effective support.
• Existing research often overlooks the dyadic experience of decision-making in dementia care transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and contrast the perspectives of a family caregiver and a healthcare professional regarding dementia care placement.
• To identify congruent and incongruent themes in the decision-making process from both viewpoints.
• To highlight areas where professional support may not align with caregiver needs.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative, descriptive, revelatory case study design was employed.
• Grounded theory approach used for data analysis of interviews.
• Three interviews were conducted: two with the family caregiver (pre- and post-placement) and one with the healthcare professional (social worker).

Main Results:

• Eleven major themes emerged from the comparative analysis of caregiver and professional perspectives.
• Significant congruence and incongruence were identified between the family caregiver's and professional's views on placement.
• Professionals may lack awareness of the specific support required by family caregivers during critical decision-making periods.

Conclusions:

• Anticipatory guidance for family caregivers is essential before crises necessitate immediate placement decisions.
• Healthcare professionals need to better understand and align with the lived experiences of family caregivers.
• Further research is required to identify factors promoting smoother decision-making and long-term care transitions for dementia caregivers.