Motivators and barriers to social participation in two Chinese long-term care institutions: A focus-group study

Abstract

This study used focus group interviews with 40 older Chinese long-term care residents to explore their motivators and barriers to social participation in institutional settings informed by their lived experience. Using inductive thematic analysis, we found that motivators include pursuit of healthy ageing (better physical and mental health) and pursuit of meaningful ageing (sense of achievement and being useful, increased connectedness and realization of dreams from earlier life). The reported barriers illuminate structural components such as life-course experiences, long-term care-related barriers and Chinese policy-related barriers. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the multidimensionality of motivators and barriers to social participation. To promote healthy ageing among institutionalized residents, staff and policy makers are recommended to initiate and support meaningful activities for residents. Residents’ individual dreams and accumulated life-course disadvantages experienced long before admission to long-term care should also be considered when devising effective interventions to increase residents’ level of social participation.