Perspectives of staff and administrators on active aging among older inpatients: a qualitative descriptive study of an Ontario hospital.

Older adults in Canadian hospitals often experience prolonged stays, leading to high volumes of sedentary time and social isolation, both of which negatively impact recovery. This qualitative descriptive study explored how healthcare workers and hospital leadership perceive these challenges and the opportunities to address them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants (12 health care workers and 6 leaders) at a mid-sized Ontario hospital, using the Social Ecological Model to guide design and analysis. Thematic analysis revealed four interrelated themes: role-related ambiguity as a constraint to supporting active aging, competing demands that deprioritize active aging despite a shared vision, families and volunteers as critical actors, and unconscious ageism in care despite a desire to be age-friendly. Findings point to the need for a comprehensive, multi-component strategy that integrates individual, organizational, and policy-level actions. This study lays the groundwork for future efforts to support an age-friendly hospital strategy, including further research incorporating the perspectives of patients and caregivers.