Resources of Residents for Potential Transition from Long-Term Care to Community

Lina Spirgienė,Pirkko Routasalo,Jūratė Macijauskienė

doi:10.3390/medicina49120082

Abstract

Transition from long-term care to the community can have positive effects on residents' health and quality of life and promote the feelings of happiness, safety, and independence. The aim of this study was to examine residents' resources for potential transition to the community after residing in long-term care facilities. The study was conducted in 8 long-term care institutions for older persons of Kaunas county. The study population comprised 252 residents. The items contained in the interRAI Long-Term Care Facility assessment instrument were used to evaluate a consistent positive outlook, social activities, and discharge potential. Cognitive impairment was measured using the Cognitive Performance Scale. Activities of daily living were measured using the Activities of Daily Living Hierarchy Scale. More than 10% of the residents exhibited no cognitive impairment. One-third of the residents preferred to transition back to the community from their long-term care facility. Two-thirds expressed that they had familiar surroundings, which could be assumed to increase their feeling of safety at home. Social activities prevalent among residents included taking care of plants and walking outdoors. About 40% of the residents were physically independent in the activities of daily living. In spite of these resources, no residents were involved in a discharge process due to the lack of established nursing and social care services and transitional care plans. With well-organized community services, some residents in long-term care facilities may have enough resources to live in the community.

Highlights

Providing person-centered care accompanied by an individualized care plan has become the focus of home and community care service provision for older people in contrast to expensive long-term care facilities (LTCFs) [1]
Differences in Activities of daily living (ADL) among the residents are displayed in Fig. The results demonstrated that 37.7% of the residents were independent in ADLs
The residents’ activities were associated with taking care of plants and walking outdoors. These activities are possible in LTCFs, but as long as the resident continues to engage in these social activities, he or she has other functional resources to support living at home

Summary

Introduction

Providing person-centered care accompanied by an individualized care plan has become the focus of home and community care service provision for older people in contrast to expensive long-term care facilities (LTCFs) [1]. Older adults may enter LTCFs as a result of functional or cognitive decline or due to the lack of home care support services [2]. Facilitating successful transition back to the community after entry to long-term care is a serious challenge to social and health care systems. In Lithuania, transition back to the community is rare, and a declining trend has been observed: in 2011, Prioritization of residents who may thrive from transition back to the community must consider personal, health, and functional conditions that increase the probability of successful discharge [10]. Resources are defined as “the capability, initiative and means of doing something” [11]. When applied to older adult longterm care residents, resources encompass the inner power of cognitive, psychological, social, and physical function to manage every day challenges

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