Complexity of Care: A Concept Analysis of Older Adult Health Care Experiences

To define the term complexity of care.

The aging population and lack of gerontological preparation in pre-licensure nursing programs are pressing issues. The NLN Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors (ACE.S) project developed a framework to facilitate faculty and student understanding of older adults' care needs. Integral to the framework is the concept of complexity of care.

Rogers and Knafl's evolutionary method of concept analysis was used.

The analysis identified three antecedents (focus on treatment and cure of disease, multiple comorbidities, and life experiences and culture), five attributes (polypharmacy, use of advanced technologies, novel care models, a fragmented health care system, and the relational nature of caregiving), and two consequences (impact on quality of life and impact on quality of care).

Defining the concept of complexity of care will facilitate student understanding of the unique health care needs of older adults.