Decision Making in Long-Term Care

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Abstract
This article reports findings from a qualitative study of approaches to long-term care decision making used by older adults (N = 52) who continued to reside long-term in the community following nursing facility pre-admission screening. Older adults used different approaches to decision-making (autonomous, collaborative, and delegated) while seeking the most appropriate care setting. Factors such as mental capacity, the role of family caregivers, and self-advocacy skills influenced the choice of decision-making approach. Findings also illustrate how older adults moved through multiple pathways in order to reach their eventual long-term residence. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for clinical practice and research.