Healthcare professionals' perspective on how to promote older couples' participation in everyday life when using respite care.

Abstract

The aim is to describe healthcare professionals' perspectives on how they understand and promote older couples' participation in everyday life when using residential respite care. Eighteen healthcare professionals with varying degrees of competence and from one residential respite care facility participated in four focus group interviews. Data were analysed through qualitative latent content analysis. The findings revealed a broad, multifaceted view of participation and ways in which participation in everyday life is promoted by these professionals. Trustworthy relationships between professionals, spousal caregivers and clients were implicated. Promoting participation also necessitated that clients have access to meaningful activities. In addition, participation entailed an environment that supported various needs. Promoting participation for older couples that are using respite care involves multifaceted perspectives that consider social-relational aspects including both the client and their spouse. Furthermore, attention is needed to the meaning a change of context between home and the respite care facility has on relationships, environments and activities in everyday life. Such an approach could benefit the couples' shared everyday life situation and in a wider perspective, also influence their health and well-being when ageing in place together.