Created 04/22/2009- 09:47 Strategies for Improving Family Satisfaction with Long- Term Care Facilities: Direct Care and Family-Staff Interactions

Families are integral members of the healthcare team in LTC facilities, and the evaluation of their satisfaction has become an increasingly valued measurement. In the authors’ project, a review of the literature was conducted to identify key areas for improving family satisfaction. Two categories were identified as the most important influences on family satisfaction: direct care and family-staff interaction. Families were most satisfied with direct care that was provided with empathy and in a timely and accurate manner. Family-staff interactions were often a source of dissatisfaction that could be addressed by consistent communication. Communication strategies such as contacting family members with general updates instead of only contacting them when an adverse event occurred was one method for improving family satisfaction. (Annals of Long-Term Care: Clinical Care and Aging 2009;17[4]:25-28) Selecting a long-term care (LTC) facility for an impaired loved one is one of the most difficult decisions that family members face.1 In order to facilitate such decisions, Page 1 of 7Strategies for Improving Family Satisfaction with Long-Term Care Facilities: Direct Care..