Abstract
Introduction: In this qualitative study, care providers from long-term care homes were interviewed to explore how they experienced, coped with, and adapted to care shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Thirteen multidisciplinary care providers and 24 supervisory and administrative staff participated in either a focus group or individual interview between July 2021 and February 2022. Participants were front-line care providers in 5 urban long-term care homes in western Canada. Results: Care providers described negative impacts on residents and family members related to service delivery, restricted visiting, and quarantining protocols. They also identified negative impacts they experienced as care providers including fear and uncertainty, exhaustion, concerns about care provision, lower morale, and job self-efficacy. Buffers to stress comprised working as an integrated team and organizational support. Opportunities for growth and development and being adaptive were also described. Recommendations focused on organizational pandemic readiness and the importance of holistic care. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to proactively ensure a supportive infrastructure, wellness-promoting work culture, and a sustainable resource plan to help care providers pivot and adapt in a pandemic.
Plain Language Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted processes of care and the well-being of residents in long-term care facilities. Related to these shifts, this paper addresses the experiences of long-term care providers during the pandemic. In this study, 13 front-line and 24 supervisory and administrative long-term care staff participated in either a group or individual interview between July 2021 and February 2022. Findings from these interviews revealed profound impacts on care providers including deleterious physical and mental health impacts. However, care providers also demonstrated resilience, and relied on individual and community assets to buffer the negative impacts. These findings highlight the need to be proactive in providing infrastructure that promotes well-being and a sustainable plan to help care providers pivot and adapt in a pandemic.
