Experiences With Involuntary Nursing Home Relocation: The Staff Perspective

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Involuntary nursing home closures are infrequent but disruptive.
• Limited research exists on staff's role in resident relocation adjustment during closures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the centrality of staff actions in facilitating resident adjustment during involuntary nursing home closures.
• To identify challenges and themes in the relocation process.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 18 administrators and 43 staff.
• Thematic analysis of relocation processes for residents from two facilities that lost Medicare and State Medicaid certification.
• Focus on facilities closed due to care deficiencies.

Main Results:

• Three major themes emerged: unmet staff expectations, persistent barriers/challenges, and minimal resident/family involvement.
• Staff experiences and challenges significantly impacted the relocation process.
• Lack of resident and family engagement was a consistent finding.

Conclusions:

• Proactive, participant-derived recommendations are needed for policy and practice.
• Strengthening involuntary relocation processes requires a focus on cooperative environments and resident well-being.
• Addressing staff expectations and barriers is key to improving future involuntary closure outcomes.