Frail Older Adults' Experiences With a Proactive, Nurse-Led Primary Care Program: A Qualitative Study

The aim of the current study was to explore frail older adults' perceptions and experiences with a proactive, integrated nurse-led primary care program. A qualitative study nested within a randomized trial in primary care was conducted. In total, 11 semistructured interviews were conducted in a subsample of participants who received nurse-led care in the intervention group. Generally, proactive, nurse-led care was well-received and four different nursing roles were observed: (a) monitor, (b) director, (c) coach, and (d) visitor. The monitor role (i.e., observing and assessing potential risks) was perceived as the most important. The relationship with the nurse, timing of visits, and provided care, as well as tailoring the care to individual needs, were identified as conditions related to appreciation. If the care was well-regarded, older adults were more likely to accept it, which helped them anticipate changes or handle consequences of aging more easily.