title: Living and dying with heart failure in long-term care: experiences of residents and their family members.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of long-term care (LTC) residents living and dying with heart failure (HF)and their family members. An exploratory descriptive design was used to collect data from seven LTC residents and seven family members. The data was analysed using thematic content analysis. The main themes that emerged from the data were: limited understanding of the HF diagnosis, living with restrictions and other comorbidities, making decisions about transitioning to end-of-life care, and learning and negotiating the lines of communication. Residents and family members communicated with many health-care providers about managing the HF symptoms but most often worked through the nurse when problems arose or decisions about care needed to be made. The findings from this study contribute to our understanding of residents' and family members' experiences in managing residents' HF in LTC.
authors: Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Kaasalainen
authors: Patricia H
authors: PH
authors: Strachan
authors: George A
authors: GA
authors: Heckman
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: D'Elia
authors: Robert S
authors: RS
authors: McKelvie
authors: Carrie
authors: C
authors: McAiney
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Stolee
authors: Mary Lou
authors: ML
authors: van der Horst
authors: Mary Lou
authors: ML
authors: Kelley
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Demers
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D010166:Palliative Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013727:Terminal Care