Experiences and perceptions of older people residing in long-term care facilities in Thailand: A qualitative study

Background: Older people in long-term care facilities often experience complex symptoms and unmet needs. These affect their satisfaction, quality of life, and well-being. Person-centred care is important to manage the symptoms, and address the needs and concerns of older people, but is not provided consistently in long-term care facilities.

Aim/Research question or hypothesis: To explore the experiences and perceptions of older people in long-term care facilities in Thailand.

Methods: As part of a qualitative study using the constructivist grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with older people residing in long-term care facilities. Purposive sampling was initially used, followed by theoretical sampling. Steps including initial and focused coding, constant comparative analysis, conceptual mapping, and theoretical memos were followed for data analysis.

Results: Twelve older people participated. Four themes were generated: (1) Autonomy and dignity: Most participants experienced loss of autonomy in making independent choices, which impacted their ability to retain self-worth. (2) Mutual respect: Emphasis was placed on preserving mutual respect between staff and residents, while concerns were raised around incidents of disrespectful language and behaviour. (3) Interactions and connections: Engaging in diverse interactions and activities was preferred. This was considered crucial for improved physical and mental well-being and enhanced cognitive function. (4) Therapeutic and restorative environments: Access to green spaces was identified as a valuable way to reduce anxiety and depression, increase physical activity,
and promote social interaction.

Discussion: These findings highlight unmet needs and unique challenges experienced by older people in long-term care facilities, emphasising the importance of a person-centred approach to improve their quality of life. A person-centred approach empowers residents to be proactive in managing their health and to make choices about their care. Future work is required to develop and evaluate a person-centred care model for older people in long-term care facilities in Thailand.