From Family Involvement to Family Inclusion in Nursing Home Settings: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis

Overview

Journal J Fam Nurs

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2018 Feb 20

PMID 29455580

Citations 54

Authors

Gloria Puurveen

Jennifer Baumbusch

Preet Gandhi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The provision of care work by families plays an integral role in the quality of life of older adults living in a nursing home setting. This critical interpretive synthesis examines family members' perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in nursing home settings and interrogates the structural and relational barriers and enablers to family involvement as they relate to fostering an inclusive environment. Electronic databases and published literature were searched for empirical studies that were conducted in a nursing home setting and described involvement from the perspective of family members. Thirty-two articles published between 2006 and 2016 were included in the review. Although involvement comprised a variety of roles and responsibilities, it was grounded in family-resident relationships, influenced by family-staff relationships, and deeply affected by broader sociopolitical factors. We conclude that involvement should be understood as a democratic process with supporting policies and programs to encourage family inclusion in facility life.

Citing Articles

Advancing a relational approach through online education: A mixed methods assessment in older adults' care.

Craswell A, Dos Santos Ribeiro M, Hubbard Murdoch N, Whitford S, Murdoch T, Anderson S Australas J Ageing. 2025; 44(1):e70001.

PMID: 39985264 PMC: 11845944. DOI: 10.1111/ajag.70001.

Factors influencing partnerships between care workers and families in nursing homes in South Korea.

Jung E, Jang H Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):5662.

PMID: 39955381 PMC: 11830088. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-89078-x.

Site-level factors affecting nursing home implementation of a personalized music intervention: Qualitative analyses from Music & Memory: A Pragmatic Trial for Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease (METRIcAL).

Natalie D, Miranda O, Rebecca U, Rosa B, James R, Esme Z Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2025; 10(4):e70006.

PMID: 39748854 PMC: 11694521. DOI: 10.1002/trc2.70006.

Types of caregiving perceptions of family caregivers of elderly nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea.

Kim J, Han S BMC Nurs. 2024; 23(1):955.

PMID: 39736734 PMC: 11686974. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-02593-6.

A Narrative Exploration of Family Members' Perspectives of Life Story Phases Following Transition of an Older Family Relative Into Long-Term Care.

Corbally M, Ffrench O, Rodger D, Ricci R, Phelan A Int J Older People Nurs. 2024; 20(1):e70001.

PMID: 39638954 PMC: 11621040. DOI: 10.1111/opn.70001.

References

Fukahori H, Matsui N, Mizuno Y, Yamamoto-Mitani N, Sugai Y, Sugishita C . Factors related to family visits to nursing home residents in Japan. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2007; 45(1):73-86. DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2006.10.001. View

Tsai H, Tsai Y . Prevalence and factors related to depressive symptoms among family caregivers of nursing home residents in Taiwan. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013; 48(7):1145-52. DOI: 10.1007/s00127-013-0652-8. View

Port C . Informal caregiver involvement and illness detection among cognitively impaired nursing home residents. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006; 61(9):970-4. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/61.9.970. View

Habjanic A, Pajnkihar M . Family members' involvement in elder care provision in nursing homes and their considerations about financial compensation: a qualitative study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013; 56(3):425-31. DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2013.01.002. View

Ryan A, McKenna H . 'It's the little things that count'. Families' experience of roles, relationships and quality of care in rural nursing homes. Int J Older People Nurs. 2014; 10(1):38-47. DOI: 10.1111/opn.12052. View

Cohen L, Zimmerman S, Reed D, Sloane P, Beeber A, Washington T . Dementia in relation to family caregiver involvement and burden in long-term care. J Appl Gerontol. 2014; 33(5):522-40. PMC: 3989456. DOI: 10.1177/0733464813505701. View

Austin W, Goble E, Strang V, Mitchell A, Thompson E, Lantz H . Supporting relationships between family and staff in continuing care settings. J Fam Nurs. 2009; 15(3):360-83. DOI: 10.1177/1074840709339781. View

Tricco A, Antony J, Soobiah C, Kastner M, Cogo E, MacDonald H . Knowledge synthesis methods for generating or refining theory: a scoping review reveals that little guidance is available. J Clin Epidemiol. 2016; 73:36-42. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2015.11.021. View

Legault A, Ducharme F . Advocating for a parent with dementia in a long-term care facility: the process experienced by daughters. J Fam Nurs. 2009; 15(2):198-219. DOI: 10.1177/1074840709332929. View

10.

Bauer M, Fetherstonhaugh D, Tarzia L, Chenco C . Staff-family relationships in residential aged care facilities: the views of residents' family members and care staff. J Appl Gerontol. 2014; 33(5):564-85. DOI: 10.1177/0733464812468503. View

11.

Holmgren J, Emami A, Eriksson L, Eriksson H . Intersectional perspectives on family involvement in nursing home care: rethinking relatives' position as a betweenship. Nurs Inq. 2013; 21(3):227-37. DOI: 10.1111/nin.12046. View

12.

Bern-Klug M . The emotional context facing nursing home residents' families: a call for role reinforcement strategies from nursing homes and the community. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2008; 9(1):36-44. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2007.08.010. View

13.

Irving J . Beyond family satisfaction: Family-perceived involvement in residential care. Australas J Ageing. 2014; 34(3):166-70. DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12163. View

14.

OShea F, Weathers E, McCarthy G . Family care experiences in nursing home facilities. Nurs Older People. 2014; 26(2):26-31. DOI: 10.7748/nop2014.02.26.2.26.e543. View

15.

Petrovic-Poljak A, Konnert C . Sense of community in long-term care: the views of family caregivers of elderly military veterans. Int Psychogeriatr. 2012; 25(3):390-402. DOI: 10.1017/S1041610212001524. View

16.

Bauer M . Staff-family relationships in nursing home care: a typology of challenging behaviours. Int J Older People Nurs. 2010; 2(3):213-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-3743.2007.00075.x. View

17.

Gladstone J, Dupuis S, Wexler E . Ways that families engage with staff in long-term care facilities. Can J Aging. 2008; 26(4):391-402. DOI: 10.3138/cja.26.4.391. View

18.

Dixon-Woods M, Cavers D, Agarwal S, Annandale E, Arthur A, Harvey J . Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2006; 6:35. PMC: 1559637. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-6-35. View

19.

Kellett U . Seizing possibilities for positive family caregiving in nursing homes. J Clin Nurs. 2007; 16(8):1479-87. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2006.01844.x. View

20.

Mullin J, Simpson J, Froggatt K . Experiences of spouses of people with dementia in long-term care. Dementia (London). 2013; 12(2):177-91. DOI: 10.1177/1471301211418096. View