Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care (LTC) facilities in Canada were confronted with many rapidly changing public health safety guidelines. Based on the guidelines, LTC facilities had to implement a series of virus containment and mitigation measures, presenting significa...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05656-0 |
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| author | Donna M. Halperin Krista Whitfield Julie A. Bettinger Marian Orhierhor Katherine L. Salter Bailey M. Selig Anna Mack Brian R. Condran Alexa Davis Camryn Salyzyn Janet A. Parsons Melissa Kervin Scott A. Halperin |
| author_facet | Donna M. Halperin Krista Whitfield Julie A. Bettinger Marian Orhierhor Katherine L. Salter Bailey M. Selig Anna Mack Brian R. Condran Alexa Davis Camryn Salyzyn Janet A. Parsons Melissa Kervin Scott A. Halperin |
| author_sort | Donna M. Halperin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care (LTC) facilities in Canada were confronted with many rapidly changing public health safety guidelines. Based on the guidelines, LTC facilities had to implement a series of virus containment and mitigation measures, presenting significant challenges for both workers and residents. This research aims to provide insights that could be used to guide improvements in the experiences of LTC workers, and of residents, in future pandemic crises. Methods A qualitative multi-case study was used to explore the pandemic experiences of a demographically diverse group of LTC workers in Canada, focusing on how public health safety guidelines impacted them, and their perceptions of challenges faced by residents. Fourteen workers were engaged from facilities in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, which are regions distinct geographically and with differences in safety guidelines and implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between April to October 2021. Using thematic analysis, we identified patterns within and across the interview transcripts. Results The thematic analysis provided an understanding of the experiences and perspectives of LTC workers. There were four key themes: (1) Tangling with Uncertainty, that describes the effects of ambiguous messaging and shifting COVID-19 safety guidance on workers; (2) Finding Voice, that highlights how workers coped with feelings of helplessness during the healthcare crisis; (3) Ripple Effects, of pandemic pressures on workers beyond resident care, that included strengthening of inter-colleague support as well as financial challenges, and; (4) Loss of Home, where workers perceived that protection of residents led to a loss of the residents’ home environment, personal freedom, and autonomy. Conclusions The findings suggest that LTC workers’ experiences during future pandemics may be improved by their inclusion in the development of public health safety guidelines, facilitating inter-colleague support systems, and ensuring worker financial stability. A balance should be found between preventing infection in LTC facilities and retaining the principles of holistic and resident-centered care for workers’ and residents’ mental health benefits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dccb687903244f15acf6179f6a2e90c1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-dccb687903244f15acf6179f6a2e90c12025-08-20T02:15:00ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-02-0125112110.1186/s12877-024-05656-0Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemicDonna M. Halperin0Krista Whitfield1Julie A. Bettinger2Marian Orhierhor3Katherine L. Salter4Bailey M. Selig5Anna Mack6Brian R. Condran7Alexa Davis8Camryn Salyzyn9Janet A. Parsons10Melissa Kervin11Scott A. Halperin12Canadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthRankin School of Nursing, St. Francis Xavier UniversityVaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children’s Hospital Research InstituteVaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children’s Hospital Research InstituteCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthLi Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health TorontoCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthCanadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Nova Scotia HealthAbstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care (LTC) facilities in Canada were confronted with many rapidly changing public health safety guidelines. Based on the guidelines, LTC facilities had to implement a series of virus containment and mitigation measures, presenting significant challenges for both workers and residents. This research aims to provide insights that could be used to guide improvements in the experiences of LTC workers, and of residents, in future pandemic crises. Methods A qualitative multi-case study was used to explore the pandemic experiences of a demographically diverse group of LTC workers in Canada, focusing on how public health safety guidelines impacted them, and their perceptions of challenges faced by residents. Fourteen workers were engaged from facilities in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, which are regions distinct geographically and with differences in safety guidelines and implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between April to October 2021. Using thematic analysis, we identified patterns within and across the interview transcripts. Results The thematic analysis provided an understanding of the experiences and perspectives of LTC workers. There were four key themes: (1) Tangling with Uncertainty, that describes the effects of ambiguous messaging and shifting COVID-19 safety guidance on workers; (2) Finding Voice, that highlights how workers coped with feelings of helplessness during the healthcare crisis; (3) Ripple Effects, of pandemic pressures on workers beyond resident care, that included strengthening of inter-colleague support as well as financial challenges, and; (4) Loss of Home, where workers perceived that protection of residents led to a loss of the residents’ home environment, personal freedom, and autonomy. Conclusions The findings suggest that LTC workers’ experiences during future pandemics may be improved by their inclusion in the development of public health safety guidelines, facilitating inter-colleague support systems, and ensuring worker financial stability. A balance should be found between preventing infection in LTC facilities and retaining the principles of holistic and resident-centered care for workers’ and residents’ mental health benefits.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05656-0Long-term care (LTC) facilitiesCOVID-19 pandemicHealthcare workersResidentsPublic health guidelinesSafety measures |
| spellingShingle | Donna M. Halperin Krista Whitfield Julie A. Bettinger Marian Orhierhor Katherine L. Salter Bailey M. Selig Anna Mack Brian R. Condran Alexa Davis Camryn Salyzyn Janet A. Parsons Melissa Kervin Scott A. Halperin Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic BMC Geriatrics Long-term care (LTC) facilities COVID-19 pandemic Healthcare workers Residents Public health guidelines Safety measures |
| title | Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Unveiling the impact: understanding long-term care workers’ experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | unveiling the impact understanding long term care workers experiences and their perceptions of resident challenges amidst the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Long-term care (LTC) facilities COVID-19 pandemic Healthcare workers Residents Public health guidelines Safety measures |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05656-0 |
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