Reimagining Family Involvement in Residential Long-Term Care

Although descriptions of family involvement in residential long-term care (RLTC) are available in the scientific literature, how family involvement is optimized in nursing homes or assisted living settings remains underexplored. During the facility lockdowns and visitor restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, residents experienced social deprivation that may have resulted in significant and adverse health outcomes. As with so many other critical issues in RLTC, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the need to determine how families can remain most effectively involved in the lives of residents. This article seeks to better understand the state of the science of family involvement in RTLC and how the COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the need to revisit, and reimagine, family involvement in RLTC.