Capturing Potential Interventions for the Empowerment of Older People and Informal Caregivers in Transitional Care Decision-Making: A Qualitative Study Using Focus Groups.

The pandemic and scheduling problems meant only seven of eight planned focus groups were held, and four of 44 confirmed participants did not attend. The missing group was for older people living at home, so input about moving from home was less represented than input about moving to nursing home settings. Most healthcare professionals were nurses, so ideas may reflect nursing perspectives more than other disciplines. Older people found it harder than caregivers and professionals to suggest clear interventions, so their views were sometimes inferred from expressed needs. Focus groups were separate by participant group, which may have prevented discussion of how perspectives interact. The study was done only in Flanders, Belgium, so the health system and cultural context may limit transfer to other settings.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Do not read the four themes as evidence that information desks, home visits, trial stays or caregiver support improve empowerment or care transitions. The study only collected participants' ideas in focus groups and did not test any intervention.