The Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Department of Sociology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2018 Apr 16;73(4):e13-e23. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbx184.
Frail and disabled individuals such as assisted living residents are embedded in "care convoys" comprised of paid and unpaid caregivers. We sought to learn how care convoys are configured and function in assisted living and understand how and why they vary and with what resident and caregiver outcomes.
We analyzed data from a qualitative study involving formal in-depth interviews, participant observation and informal interviewing, and record review. We prospectively studied 28 residents and 114 care convoy members drawn from four diverse assisted living communities over 2 years.
Care convoys involved family and friends who operated individually or shared responsibility, assisted living staff, and multiple external care workers. Residents and convoy members engaged in processes of "maneuvering together, apart, and at odds" as they negotiated the care landscape routinely and during health crises. Based on consensus levels, and the quality of collaboration and communication, we identified three main convoy types: cohesive, fragmented, and discordant.
Care convoys clearly shape care experiences and outcomes. Identifying strategies for establishing effective communication and collaboration practices and promoting convoy member consensus, particularly over time, is essential to the creation and maintenance of successful and supportive care partnerships.
体弱或失能的个体，如居住在辅助生活社区的居民，都嵌入在由付费和无偿护理人员组成的“护理车队”中。我们试图了解辅助生活中的护理车队是如何配置和运作的，并理解它们是如何以及为何会有所不同，以及对居民和护理人员的结果有何影响。
我们对一项涉及正式深入访谈、参与式观察和非正式访谈以及记录审查的定性研究数据进行了分析。我们在 2 年时间内，前瞻性地研究了来自四个不同辅助生活社区的 28 名居民和 114 名护理车队成员。
护理车队涉及单独或共同承担责任的家庭成员和朋友、辅助生活工作人员以及多个外部护理人员。居民和车队成员在日常和健康危机期间，通过“一起、分开和不和”的方式来协商护理环境。根据共识水平以及协作和沟通的质量，我们确定了三种主要的车队类型：凝聚力强、碎片化和不和谐。
护理车队显然塑造了护理体验和结果。确定建立有效沟通和协作实践以及促进车队成员共识的策略，特别是随着时间的推移，对于建立和维护成功和支持性的护理伙伴关系至关重要。
