Experiences and perceptions of connection among continuing care residents in Alberta

Abstract

This study explores how connection is perceived and experienced among continuing care residents in Alberta. Data for this secondary analysis included transcripts from semi-structued interviews with 12 resident participants conducted between 2018-2019. For this analysis, connection is broadly conceptualized to include: connection to self, connection to others, and connection to body.

Three themes were developed using reflexive thematic analysis, including: 1) connection to self: continuing care settings may offer unique opportunities for connection to self through continued self-expression and self-discovery; 2) connection to others: despite challenges associated with living in residential care, participants maintained and strengthened their connections with others; and 3) seeking connection to body through sexual expression.

Findings from this study discuss the barriers and facilitators to connection in this population, while recognizing the unique context of publicly funded continuing care homes by situating findings within the existing critical care scholarship. Although residents experienced rich forms of connection, structural barriers such as heavily regimented care delivery and decades of funding cuts can impede a felt sense of connection among residents.