Denise M. Connelly

Aim: To explore transition experiences of newly graduated nurses transitioning into long‐term care and home and community care. Design: Scoping Review. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute framework and Arksey & O'Malley's principles for scoping reviews were used. Covidence facilitated evidence selection. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data, with a third resolving disputes. NVivo 14.0 supported data analysis, and thematic analysis highlighted transition experiences. Data Sources: Data retrieved from Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Google Scholar and Google for published and grey literature; searched February 2026. Results: From 27 articles, analysis revealed four themes: (1) A Different World: Contextual Challenges in Long‐Term Care and Home and Community Care Sectors, (2) Navigating as a New Graduate Nurse: Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours, (3) Support and Guidance, (4) Emergence of Professional Self as a Nurse in Long‐Term Care and Home and Community Care. Conclusion: This review emphasized the need for addressing clinical and emotional aspects of transition, including proper orientation, tailored nurse residency programs, and workload management for facilitating integration and supporting development of nurses' professional identity. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: This review may guide healthcare leaders in refining support systems for new nurses, ultimately elevating patient care standards in these sectors. Impact: Addressing challenges new nurses face when assimilating into long‐term care and home and community care environments may enhance nurse confidence, job satisfaction, recruitment, and retention. Reporting Method: The EQUATOR guidelines for PRISMA‐ScR. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. Protocol Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YD4GB , https://osf.io/gjdfz

Older adults living in long-term care homes often experience impairment in mobility and function requiring physical therapy rehabilitation. Maintaining residents' physical function can promote quality of life, reduce pain and skin breakdown, and support the provision of personal care. Family/care partners notably contribute to resident well-being. Understanding engagement between physical therapists and family/care partners is essential to advancing resident rehabilitation and health outcomes, particularly as staffing capacity, time, and access to rehabilitation services become increasingly constrained. This review aimed to synthesise and assess the quality of the literature describing engagement between physical therapists and family/care partners of older adults in long-term care. A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Six databases and grey literature were searched without date restrictions. Papers were eligible for inclusion if they: (1) described engagement between physical therapists and family/care partners as reported by any participant group; (2) were conducted in a long-term care home or equivalent setting; (3) focused on physical rehabilitation for older adults; and (4) were available in English. Any study design was eligible. Data were analysed thematically and methodological quality was assessed. Of 3443 papers and records screened, nine studies were included. Most (n=8) were qualitative and conducted in high-income countries and all were rated as "good" quality. Four themes surfaced describing engagement between physical therapists and family/care partners in long-term care: (1) physical therapists support greater family/care partner involvement in rehabilitation; (2) opportunities to enhance structured communication between physical therapists and family/care partners; (3) misalignment of family/care partner expectations with physical therapy service capacity; and (4) enhancing role clarity and value of family/care partners in rehabilitation. Engagement between physical therapists and family/care partners in long-term care homes is underdeveloped despite recognition of its potential benefits. Clearer role definitions, structured communication, and supportive organisational policies are needed to enhance collaboration, reduce caregiver burden, and support manageable physical therapist workloads. Strengthening these partnerships could improve rehabilitation processes, resident health outcomes, and sustainability of long-term care services.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how restrictions on in-person interactions within long-term care homes (LTCHs) severely compromised social connectedness among older adults and their families. Post pandemic, despite policy changes supporting greater in-person family engagement, frequent outbreaks continue to disrupt face-to-face interactions, and factors such as geography, life circumstances, and health can constrain family members’ ability to make regular in-person visits. Research suggests that web-based videoconferencing technology (WVT) may be a practical solution to help older adults within LTCHs to maintain social connection in the absence of physical gathering. However, increased understanding of end user experience is lacking, and more information on LTCHs’ readiness to support and sustain WVT will be needed if this modality is to be successfully and widely implemented. Objective: This study aimed to understand how older adults living in LTCHs, their families, and LTCH staff members perceived the use and ease of use of WVT devices for facilitating social connectedness. Methods: Using a qualitative description approach, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 7 older adults, 22 family members, and 10 staff across 3 LTCHs via Zoom (Zoom Communications, Inc), Microsoft Teams, or phone calls. Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis informed by the technology acceptance model. Results: Findings were structured into 3 main themes: actual system use, perceived usefulness of WVT, and perceived ease of use of WVT. Participants described using a range of WVT hardware and software to promote social connection between older adults and family members. Videoconferencing had a crucial role in supporting older adults and their family members’ positive emotional state while also enabling them to maintain life and social roles such as participating in family functions. Despite the perceived use of these tools, participants were concerned about the decline in offering videoconferencing services across LTCHs post pandemic. Some participants noted shifting funding priorities toward supporting in-person recreational activities rather than diversifying web-based social connection options. In addition, factors pertaining to WVT ease of use and integration included limited staff to support older adults with different physical and cognitive needs, variability in digital literacy including knowledge about accessibility features to enhance the ease of use, and families’ lack of awareness about the availability of WVT for social connectedness. Conclusions: Web-based videoconferencing technology has the potential to be a meaningful tool to reduce social isolation and promote a sense of social connectedness among older adults and their families and friends. Future research should explore how WVT could be integrated into care planning for this population, particularly in situations where older adults may be at heightened risk for social isolation. Resource allocation toward equipment, infrastructure, and family and staff training would be well-placed to increase engagement with WVT within LTCHs.

Background: Long‐term care and home and community care sectors are not perceived as workplaces of choice for nurses. Aim: To describe (1) what creates a desirable work environment in long‐term care, home and community care, and hospital sectors for nurses; (2) what motivates nurses to work in these sectors; and (3) what influences nurses to leave these sectors when they do. Design: An open, cross‐sectional online survey. Methods: Registered Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses across Ontario were recruited broadly to rate 14 statements in a survey regarding their beliefs about three healthcare sectors (i.e., long‐term care, home and community, and hospital sector) and 20 statements regarding their perceptions of motivation, and attrition‐related factors, to work in these sectors. Results: Data from Registered Practical Nurses ( N = 264) and Registered Nurses ( N = 109) were analyzed (total N = 373, completion rate = 90.7%). Nurses report that they leave work in long‐term care and/or home and community care because they are seeking better work–life balance, an increase in pay, and because they do not feel valued or appreciated by their employer. While nurses agree that their schooling has prepared them well to work in these sectors, they also agree that they would be more motivated to work within these sectors if they were able to determine their own availability. Conclusion: Financial and nonfinancial influences were reported within the motivating and push factors for nurses to work in these sectors. The reported beliefs of nurses enforced the stigma attached to working as a nurse within these two sectors and provided novel insight into the system and organizational challenges for nurse workforce recruitment and retention.

Ageing populations present new challenges for society, governments and for health systems. To accommodate the global demographic shift towards older popula

Background: Transitions from hospital to long-term care (LTC) facilities are critical periods for older adults living with dementia, often involving complex medical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs. Virtual team-based care has emerged as a promising strategy to improve communication, coordination, and continuity of care during these transitions. However, there is limited evidence on how such approaches are implemented in practice, particularly with respect to inclusion, equity, and engagement of older adults and families. Objective: This study aimed to identify the enablers and barriers to delivering virtual team-based care to support older adults with dementia in transitioning from hospital to LTC. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a policy review. Data were collected from 60 participants, including healthcare providers, older adults, and family care partners across hospital and LTC settings in British Columbia, Canada. Thematic analysis was conducted using a hybrid inductive and deductive approach. Eighteen institutional policies and guidelines on virtual care and dementia transitions were reviewed to contextualize findings. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) enhancing communication and collaboration, (2) engaging families in care planning, (3) digital access and literacy, and (4) organizational readiness and infrastructure. While virtual huddles and secure messaging platforms supported timely coordination, implementation was inconsistent due to infrastructure limitations, unclear protocols, and staffing pressures. Institutional policies emphasized privacy and security but lacked guidance for inclusive engagement of older adults and families. Many participants described limited access to reliable technology, a lack of training, and the absence of tools tailored for individuals with cognitive impairment. Conclusions: Virtual care has the potential to support more coordinated and inclusive transitions for people with dementia, but its success depends on more than technology. Structured protocols, inclusive policies, and leadership commitment are essential to ensure equitable access and meaningful engagement. The proposed VIRTUAL framework offers practical tips for strengthening virtual team-based care by embedding ethical, relational, and infrastructural readiness across settings.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of nurses’ contributions to inpatient rehabilitation and interprofessional teams in a Canadian context. Design: A qualitative exploratory study was performed in three Ontario hospital rehabilitation units. Methods: Thirty-one registered practical nurses having at least 1 year of rehabilitation nursing experience in geriatric or stroke hospital settings were interviewed using a semistructured guide. An inductive thematic analysis of the transcripts was completed. Findings: Four themes emerged in relation to the perceived contributions of nurses. The first, Therapy Practice , referred to actions directly related to point of care and included “hands-on/hands-off,” reminders, and repetition of therapeutic motions. The second, Psychosocial Support, involved the psychosocial support of the patient to maintain their engagement with rehabilitation. The nurse’s role in coordinating patient care and maintaining the physical functioning of the patient for participation in rehabilitation formed the third and fourth themes, Coordinating Patient Care and Maintaining Patient Physical Functioning , respectively. Clinical Relevance: The findings have direct implications for delivery of quality whole-person care for optimal patient outcomes through inclusion of nurses in interprofessional collaboration on rehabilitation units. Conclusion: The nurses identified their pervasive influences in explaining, demonstrating, and practicing with the goal to help the patient to (re)gain independence.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and the concomitant restrictions on in-person interactions within long-term care homes (LTCHs) severely compromised social connectedness among older adults and their families. In a post-pandemic climate, despite policies changes that support greater in-person family engagement, LTCHs frequently experience outbreaks which can disrupt face-to-face interactions and factors such as geography, life circumstances, and variable health can constrain family members’ ability to make regular in-person visits. Research suggests that web-based presence technology (WPT) may be a practical solution to increase opportunities for older adults within LTCH to maintain social connection in the absence of physical gathering. However, increased understanding of end user experiences is lacking and more information on LTCHs readiness to support and sustain WPT will be needed if this modality is to be successfully and widely implemented. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to understand how older adults living in LTCHs, their families, and LTCHs staff members perceived the utility and ease of use of web-based presence technology devices for facilitating social connectedness. METHODS Using a qualitative description approach in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven older adults, 22 family members, and 10 staff across three LTCHs via Zoom/Teams or phone calls. Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis informed by Technology Acceptance Model. RESULTS Findings were structured into three main themes: actual system use, perceived usefulness of WPT and perceived ease of use of WPT. Participants described using a range of WPT hardware and software to promote social connection between older adults and family members. Videoconferencing had a crucial role in supporting older adults and their family members’ positive emotional state while also enabling them to maintain life and social roles such as participating in family functions. Despite the perceived utility of these tools, participants were concerned about the decline in offering videoconferencing services using web-based presence technologies across LTCHs post-pandemic. Some participants noted shifting funding priorities towards supporting in-person recreational activities rather than diversifying web-based social connection options. Additionally, factors pertaining to WPT ease of use and integration included limited staff to support older adults with different physical and cognitive needs, variability in digital literacy including knowledge about accessibility features to enhance the ease of use, and families’ lack of awareness about the availability of WPT for social connectedness. CONCLUSIONS Web-based presence technology has potential to be a meaningful way to reduce social isolation and promote a sense of social connectedness among older adults and their families and friends. Future research should explore how web-based technology could be integrated into care planning for this population particularly in situations where older adults may be at heightened risk for social isolation. Resource allocation towards equipment, infrastructure, and family and staff training would be well-placed to increase engagement with web-based presence technology within LTCHs. CLINICALTRIAL PRR1-10.2196/50137

Introduction: The PIECES approach has been utilized for over 25 years across various Canadian healthcare settings, including long-term care (LTC). PIECES fosters a team-based, person-centred approach to addressing responsive behaviors—such as yelling and restlessness—often linked to unmet personal needs. Objective: This study aimed to explore, with implementation of the virtual version of PIECES: (a) the experiences of LTC staff, focusing on challenges, facilitators, and recommendations; and (b) resilience and interprofessional collaboration among LTC staff. Methods: A convergent mixed method approach used focus groups with registered practical nurses (RPNs), managers, PIECES-trained RPN champions and PIECES mentors to gather their experiences. Surveys at baseline and post-intervention assessed individual and workplace resilience, and team collaboration. Results: Themes identified through reflexive thematic analysis included increased team collaboration and efficacy to manage responsive behaviors through PIECES care planning. Formalized processes supported by leadership with input from family/care partners enhanced nurses’ ability to provide the needed care for responsive behaviors. Primary challenges to PIECES implementation were unfamiliarity with technology and staff shortage. Recommendations included embedding technology in usual care, ongoing support with referral process and continued virtual PIECES training. Standard outcome measures revealed reduced personal and workplace resilience, and team collaboration. Discussion and Conclusion: The RPN-led referral algorithm for the virtual PIECES approach invested the LTC staff together during the difficult COVID period and challenged their existing skills and knowledge of technology.