title: Family Caregivers Define and Manage the Nursing Home Placement Process.
abstract: The nursing home placement process is complex and difficult for family caregivers. This qualitative descriptive study examines the experiences of caregivers involved in the management of care and placement of an older family member using the Family Management Style Framework. Ten caregivers were recruited from four nursing homes in the Midwest. The caregivers were interviewed shortly after placement and again 3 months post-placement. Results provide a unique understanding of care management and the nursing home placement process from the perspective of the primary family caregiver. Overall, there were similarities across the same types of caregiving dyads, for example, spousal and adult-children caregivers. Caregivers expressed the need to maintain the identity of their older family member, a familial responsibility for caregiving, and change in their family relationship over time. Appreciating caregivers' challenges and needs gives health care professionals a better understanding for how to provide assistance for a smoother nursing home transition.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, USA sarahkoplow@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Koplow
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Agatha M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Knafl
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Olimpia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paun
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gruss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States
keywords: Family Management Style Framework; family caregivers; nursing home placement; qualitative research