The Differential Roles of Caregivers, Caregiver Networks, and Health Professionals in Residential-Care-Home Entry

Abstract

This study examined the roles of primary caregivers, primary caregivers' informal networks, and health professionals in the residential-care-home (RCH) entry process. Results showed that primary caregivers were the principal source of decisions to move elders from their homes into RCHs. However, logistic regression analyses indicated that elders who were hospitalized prior to RCH entry were more likely to have a health professional label them as out-of-place in their homes and refer them to a residential care home. Elders who had a friend as their primary caregiver were also more likely to have a health professional refer them to an RCH than were elders who had a close relative as a primary caregiver. The characteristics of primary caregivers' informal networks did not influence the source of the RCH entry decision. Practice applications are addressed