STAKEHOLDER VIEWS ON QUALITY PRIORITIES FOR LONG-TERM CARE

State and federal initiatives are underway to assess and improve quality in long-term care (LTC), including in nursing facilities, assisted living, and community-based services. Although people who use LTC and their families are key stakeholders in LTC quality, their views are often excluded from discussions in which priorities for LTC quality are set. This study aimed to examine which aspects of LTC quality stakeholders view as the most important and explore whether differences exist based on stakeholder role. A survey addressing 9 domains of LTC quality was implemented with several stakeholder groups in Minnesota in 2017 (n=424). Participants included a convenience sample of older adults who use LTC in any setting, family members of LTC users, LTC administrators, nursing leaders, and state policy and regulatory personnel. Respondents were asked to rate the importance of 50 items related to various aspects of quality of care and quality of life. Across stakeholder groups, items related to dignity, safety, and staff competence were prioritized, while those focused on autonomy/choice were viewed as less important. Consumers emphasized the physical environment over professionals, and consumers rated most aspects of quality as being less important than professionals did (p<0.01). No differences in priorities were observed across LTC settings. Findings reveal the importance of including consumers and families in organizational and policy discussions about priorities for LTC quality. In addition, they highlight the need for more dialogue to clarify stakeholders’ underlying values related to LTC and ensure policies and practices are best aligned with these goals.