The Experiences of Family Caregivers Whose Relative Is Relocating From a Regular Nursing Home to an Innovative Living Arrangement: A Qualitative Study.
Mara Brouwers, Audrey Beaulen, Hilde Verbeek and 2 others
PMID 42068001WHAT IT FOUND
Family caregivers of older adults with dementia described relocation as stressful and uncertain, especially about communication with staff.
They liked the homelike, green new settings but worried about safety and the new way of working.
Key findings
01Family caregivers chose and decorated the new room, and their main goal on relocation day was to distract and comfort their relative.
02Unclear staff communication about how to tell residents about the move increased caregiver stress, while feeling properly informed reduced it.
03Caregivers liked the physical environment but were uneasy about technology-dependent safety.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Findings are experiences from 22 family caregivers, not measured outcomes for residents or caregivers. The study included only family caregivers, not residents or staff, so it does not show how all parties experienced the move. It was done in three Dutch nursing home locations, so it may not apply to other countries or other types of innovative living arrangements. Interviews were done 2 weeks after relocation, before the culture change was fully implemented, so caregivers' views may change later. Most relocations happened during COVID, which could have affected preparation, visiting, and communication. All residents had dementia, so it says little about families of residents without dementia.
Declared interests
The work was funded by the RELOCARE consortium, which received a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that innovative living arrangements improve care or reduce family stress. It reports caregivers' experiences 2 weeks after relocation, before the culture change was fully implemented, and it did not measure resident or caregiver outcomes.