Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Long-term care (LTC) staff are essential in directly shaping the well-being of older adults, particularly those living with dementia. Staff play vital roles in meeting residents' complex and diverse psychosocial needs. Meanwhile, LTC staff in Canada face high levels of stress and heavy workloads, intensified by limited resources and increasing turnover. Most staff are women, over age 40, and immigrants-groups that often experience marginalization and burnout. Research has focused predominantly on challenges they face in caregiving. However, little is known about their positive caregiving experiences, and how these experiences contribute to their well-being, openness to innovation, and workforce retention in LTC homes. This study explores sources and experiences of joy in caregiving among LTC staff. It aims to inform strategies that strengthen LTC workforce, improve care quality, and foster sustainable innovation in LTC. Guided by Appreciative Inquiry, a strength-based and collaborative approach, this study will centre the voices of diverse LTC staff. I will interview 15 staff members from two LTC homes in Canada (one public, one private). I will ask: (1) What brings joy in staff's caregiving? (2) How does joy impact their well-being and work? (3) What supports would sustain joy in their roles? This qualitative research will generate deep, practical insights to inform LTC practice and policy. The study supports national strategies to strengthen Canada's health and social care workforce for aging populations. As a researcher working closely with LTC teams and partners, I will co-create and share results in accessible formats (e.g., infographics, videos) with staff, care leaders, older adults with living and lived experiences of dementia, family caregivers, policymakers, and the public. Findings can help promote joy in caregiving, enhance care delivery, foster appreciative workplace cultures and strengthen innovative practices in LTC homes in Canada and beyond.