title: Families Matter in Long-Term Care: Results of a Group-Randomized Trial.
abstract: This group-randomized trial implemented and evaluated an intervention to reduce staff burden and improve family and resident outcomes by helping families create meaningful roles for themselves in residential care/assisted living and nursing homes. Across 24 sites, families (N= 490) and staff (N= 397) provided data over six months about family involvement, family and staff well-being and attitudes, and resident quality of life. Intervention subjects participated in workshops and created service plans to identify family roles. For families, the intervention decreased burden and improved resident quality of life but also increased guilt and conflict. Staff reported less burnout and greater partnership with families, and felt families were more empathic. Consequently, there are benefits to increasing family involvement, but attention must be paid to potential barriers and negative outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Campus Box 7590, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590, Sheryl_Zimmerman@unc.edu , 919-966-7111.
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.affiliation: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Campus Box 7590, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590, Lauren_Cohen@unc.edu 919-843-8874.
authors.forename: Lauren W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Campus Box 7590, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590, dreed@schsr.unc.edu , 919-843-8876.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, 3600 Duke University Medical Center, Rm. 3508, Blue Zone, Duke Clinic, 200 Trent Dr., Durham, NC 27710, Lisa.Gwyther@duke.edu , 919-660-7508.
authors.forename: Lisa P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Gwyther
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 310 East Campus Road, Tucker Hall, Athens, GA 30602-7016, twashing@uga.edu , 706-542-3364.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, 525 West Redwood St., Baltimore, MD 21201, jcagle@ssw.maryland.edu , 804-248-2748.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cagle
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Campus Box 7590, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590, psloane@med.unc.edu , 919-966-5818.
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3105 F McGavran-Greenberg H1, 135 Dauer Dr., Campus Box 7420, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7420, jpreisse@bios.unc.edu , 919-966-7265.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Preisser