Launching Medical Foster Home Programs: Key Components to Growing This Alternative to Nursing Home Placement |
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| Authors: | Leah M. Haverhals Chelsea E. Manheim Jacqueline Jones Cari Levy |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation, Denver, Colorado, USA;2. College of Nursing, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA;3. University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Aurora, Colorado, USA |
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| Abstract: | Objective: The objective of this research was to examine and explain elements that enhanced or thwarted program growth of the United States Veterans Health Administration Medical Foster Home program. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted nationally through individual interviews over the phone and in-person (n = 22) with coordinators (n = 15 at slow-growth programs; n = 6 at fast-growth programs), program support assistants (PSAs) (n = 1 at slow-growth program), and home-based primary care team members (n = 3), as well as three in-person focus groups (n = 28 total participants) with home-based primary care team members. All participants (N = 53) were involved with programs in existence for at least two years. Results: Facilitators and barriers that enhanced or thwarted program growth emerged around four themes: A full-time coordinator; Unmitigated home-based primary care team engagement; Pursuit and receipt of appropriate referrals; and Match between caregiver, home, and Veteran. Conclusions: To facilitate program growth, program leaders should consider themes identified and how to foster situations and shape policies that put themes into practice. |
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| Keywords: | Veterans aging veterans health administration nursing homes adult foster care qualitative methods |
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