Drawing the journey map of smart care experiences for older adults with disabilities in long-term care communities: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a basis for optimizing the smart care experience and developing targeted nursing strategies for older adults with disabilities in Long-term Care (LTC) Communities, based on the multidimensional needs identified throughout their smart care journey.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative study was conducted from October 2024 to August 2025. Fifteen older adults with disabilities were recruited from four LTC Communities in Jinan and Jining, Shandong Province, and participated in semi-structured interviews.Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to develop a perceived smart care journey map.

RESULTS

The smart care experiences and needs of participants were organized along a timeline covering three phases-initial contact, adjustment, and adaptation-and categorized into three dimensions: tasks, emotions, and pain points. A total of 21 themes were identified, including environmental familiarity and smart care function recognition, value assessment, novelty and expectation, fear of unknown risks and emotional alienation, deviation from care mode preferences, insufficient initial information supply and social support needs, and increased economic burden. These findings were synthesized into a comprehensive journey map.

CONCLUSION

The experience and needs of older adults with disabilities regarding smart care are complex and evolve dynamically across physical, psychological, and social domains. Future nursing interventions should incorporate phased assessments to enable holistic, personalized, and precise care, thereby enhancing the quality of life in this population.