Perspectives of Healthcare Providers and Managers on Older Adults' Transition to a Long-Term Care Facility in the Côte-Nord Region of Quebec.

Background/

Objectives

Older adults' transitions to long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are complex. In Quebec, Canada, recent policies promoted LTCFs as living environments. The Life Story questionnaire was suggested as one tool to support this shift. In addition, rural regions may face specific barriers to successful transitions to LTCFs. The Côte-Nord region, with a vast territory and a low population density, offers a distinctly rural setting. The objective of this study was therefore to describe healthcare providers' and managers' perceptions of the use of the Life Story questionnaire during the transition to an LTCF in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, and gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing its implementation in this context.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a descriptive interpretive methodology.

Results

Participants highlighted social workers' central role in completing the questionnaire and discussed its use by team members. They valued the tool for supporting individualized care and emotional well-being. They also identified barriers and facilitators at institutional, inter-institutional and organizational levels. Barriers included staff turnover and the difficulty of establishing a wide cultural shift. Facilitators included institutional support, consistent access to completed questionnaires, stable teams, interprofessional collaboration and inter-institutional collaboration. Participants finally offered some recommendations to spread the practice and foster a more consistent use across settings.

Conclusions

The Life Story questionnaire appeared to support policy priorities and may be particularly valuable when completed prior to LTCF admission. Further research could explore its impact on specific indicators.