Swedish stakeholders’ attitudes towards challenges and opportunities regarding support efforts to older persons’ conditions for living with a high quality of life in ordinary housing: a panel study

BACKGROUND: Increasing amounts of older people are able to stay in their own homes, with the opportunity and desire to continue their lives that way, though they often have diverse age-related needs. This means healthcare staff has to have right conditions to work with advanced holistic person-centered care. THE AIM: Was to identify panel consensus regarding attitudes toward challenges and opportunities in healthcare support for older people living at home. METHODS: Data was collected through three rounds of chronological mail rounds, with 45 statements presented to an panel (n=20) of that represents the network and decision makers surrounding care and support for older people in ordinary housing on municipal level. RESULTS: All statements achieved a certain level of consensus. Today's care recipients are both older and frailer with major healthcare needs, and family members are in turn in need of recovery. Housing is also not always adapted to the increased needs of older people. Also, there is a lack of communication and collaboration between stakeholders' design of nursing efforts, access to human resources, and use of health and welfare technology. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider both individual and organizational conditions when planning an extended home care for older people. This should take place in team cooperation to also ensure that personnel resources are used for the right tasks, and that digital solutions are optimized in line with the wishes and expressed needs of the older people and their families.