Visibility and meanings of partnership in health care for older people who need support to live at home.

Abstract

Problems experienced by older people with complex needs to live at home have been reported in the literature. This qualitative study builds on previous research and investigates enduring issues older people face when interacting with healthcare services. To gain an in-depth understanding of what is involved in providing good quality health care for older people who need support to live at home. We adopted an interpretive descriptive approach and conducted semi-structured interviews with older people (n=7), carers (n=8) and key informants (n=11). Initial and secondary analysis of qualitative data was completed. Major themes emerged about meanings of partnership in health care, and invisibility of the older person as a partner in health care. Partnership in health care was understood to mean being treated as an equal, being involved in decision-making, and making contributions which impact on health care and health systems. The metaphorical concept of 'invisibility' related to the older person not being seen and heard as a partner in health care, as well as being a recipient of care. We concluded that older people who need support to live at home are not highly visible to health providers, policymakers and researchers as a central partner and consumer to be meaningfully engaged in shaping their health care. Opportunities to address persistent issues with quality of health care may in future be achieved through stronger partnerships between older people and health providers, to find new ways to improve the quality of care for older people.