Grant: Operating Grant

Family members make significant contributions to Canada's healthcare system through their role as unpaid caregivers for older people living at home. This has been the focus of many research studies, however very little research has examined the role of families in long-term residential care (LTRC). Recent policy papers have pointed to the need to address this gap in order to develop effective, equitable and ethical policies and practices necessary to foster supportive and collaborative relations among those engaged in care work in this setting - that is residents, family members and staff. The purpose of this research study is to develop a better understanding of how care is negotiated in LTRC, including the influence of social relations such as gender, class, racialization and age on this process. This study will be conducted in three long-term residential care facilities in British Columbia. We will conduct in-depth interviews with family members, residents, and staff members, gathering detailed information about their experiences of negotiating care work. We will spend time with family members when they are at the facility, observing the negotiation of care work during informal and formal interactions (e.g. 'hands-on' personal care, helping with facility routines such as meal times, and participating in Family Councils). We will also review documents (e.g. provincial licensing guidelines, facility-level policies) that shape care work in LTRC. We expect that this study will provide a current, contextualized portrayal of how care work is negotiated in the complex healthcare environment of LTRC. Findings will be used to inform health policies and practice-ready strategies (e.g. communication, conflict resolution workshops) that foster supportive and collaborative relations among those engaged in care work. Knowledge translation and exchange activities will involve a blog on a study-specific website, community forums, in addition to academic dissemination.