Promoting activity and mobility in long‐term care environments: A photo‐elicitation study with older adults and nurses
Authors: Narsakka Noora , Suhonen Riitta , Groot Barbara , Stolt Minna 
Published: September 2023

Aim(s)

The aim of this research study is to collaboratively generate insights in the current institutional long‐term care environment for activity and mobility of older adults, and of solutions that could be used to increase the activity and improve the mobility of the older adults.

Design

This research constitutes a qualitative study with a critical approach.

Methods

Data were collected using photo‐elicitation in four long‐term care units in Finland during the spring of 2022. Older adults participated in individual data collection sessions which combined photographing and discussion. Staff members individually took photographs and later participated in a group discussion based on the photographs. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse all data together.

Results

Ten older adults and 12 staff members participated in the research study. Four themes were identified: (1) facilities should be designed and equipped for their users, (2) moving in the institutional environment, (3) passivity as a norm, and (4) nurses should act differently and have the resources to do so.

Conclusion

To increase the activity and improve the mobility of older adults, improvements are needed in terms of the design of facilities, opportunities for freedom of movement, outdoor activity, daily life activities, exercise, nurses' role in activating older adults and resources.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care

Increased attention to the support of activity and mobility could benefit older adults in institutional long‐term care. Physical activity promotion should be incorporated as an integral part of nursing practice.

Patient or public contribution

Directors of units were consulted when planning the study. Older adults and nurses contributed to the data collection and interpretation of data.

Impact: (Addressing)

What problem did the study address?

Older adults have recurrently been reported as living inactive lives in institutional long‐term care.

There is evidence of the relationship between the environment and the activity and mobility of older adults, but there seems to be a research‐practice gap in terms of implementing activity‐ and mobility‐promoting environments.

Older adults and staff members are important in developing practice and change‐oriented knowledge that can be used to increase the activity and improve the mobility of older adults in institutional long‐term care.

What were the main findings?

Various environmental improvements are recommended to increase the activity and improve the mobility of older adults in institutional long‐term care settings.

Improvements for the design of facilities, opportunities for freedom of movement, outdoor activity, daily life activities, exercise, nurses' role in activating older adults and resources for activity support would benefit older adults' activity and mobility.

Where and on whom will the research have an impact?

Increasing the activity of older adults requires better activity promotion and mobility support by nurses in institutional care. Sufficient education and resources should be organized for activity promotion, in addition to a care and organizational culture that values activity.

Environmental aspects to promote activity and mobility need to be considered already at the planning, building and renovating phases of facilities.

Policymakers and care organizers should consider evidence of the harms and benefits of different institutional living environments when making decisions on organizing care.

Reporting Method

The study is reported using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).