Promoting Family/Friend Involvement in Care Planning in Care Homes: A Qualitative Exploration of the Usefulness and Relevance of an Information Resource

Background

The involvement of family/friends in the care planning of an older adult residing in a care home can help to foster person-centred care. This study explored and incorporated family/friends' views on the relevance and usefulness of a draft information resource focusing on care planning to address and support older adults' needs.

Methods

The research team drafted an information resource to help family/friends better understand care planning. The contents of the draft resource were informed by previous research on care planning in older adult care homes, which included a scoping review, a modified Delphi survey and consultations with health and social care professionals. Feedback on the draft resource was collected through remote focus group discussions with family/friends of older adults residing in care homes in England in November 2024. Participants were invited to share their views on the draft information resource and if/how it could be improved. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and the data thematically analysed in NVivo.

Findings

The views of 28 family/friends were obtained across four focus group discussions. Three main themes were generated: experiences with care planning, usefulness of the information resource and improving and sharing the information resource. Findings depict a heterogeneity in awareness of, and involvement in, care planning. Most participants perceived the information resource to have the potential to raise awareness of care planning and promote family/friend involvement. Subject to changes, several participants said that they would share the document. Some, largely due its presentation, said they would not.

Conclusions

Most participants believed that an information resource on care planning would be helpful. Future research is required to explore whether the document leads to increased family/friend involvement in care planning.

Patient or Public Contribution

Two family members with experience of supporting a relative in a care home were involved in devising and revising the different iterations of the information resource and topic guide, and in interpreting findings.