Dr. Joseph Gaugler

Right, yeah. This is a topic that I've been interested in as far back as my master's thesis back at Penn State. Gosh, it's been a while now. I'm not even going to say how many years. That's a great question to ask. It's also a very complicated one, in part because of the heterogeneity of

Right, yeah. This is a topic that I've been interested in as far back as my master's thesis back at Penn State. Gosh, it's been a while now. I'm not even going to say how many years. That's a great question to ask. It's also a very complicated one, in part because of the heterogeneity of

caregiving context, experiences, in some cases, functional or disease trajectories on the part of the care recipient, we'll use the term relative in this instance, and under what circumstances the decision is made to admit a loved one to some type of residential long-term care setting. When you factor in all of these different

caregiving context, experiences, in some cases, functional or disease trajectories on the part of the care recipient, we'll use the term relative in this instance, and under what circumstances the decision is made to admit a loved one to some type of residential long-term care setting. When you factor in all of these different

Layers of perspectives, preferences, contextual issues, financial barriers, stress. I mean, the list can go on and on. It becomes very, very challenging to simply summarize, well, it's this way and this is what, you know, this family should be worried about versus that one, etc.

Layers of perspectives, preferences, contextual issues, financial barriers, stress. I mean, the list can go on and on. It becomes very, very challenging to simply summarize, well, it's this way and this is what, you know, this family should be worried about versus that one, etc.

I mean, I will say, and I think in talking to many families and our research to some extent has borne this out, you know, for many families, it is a very challenging decision, particularly coming to the point where that decision needs to be made.

I mean, I will say, and I think in talking to many families and our research to some extent has borne this out, you know, for many families, it is a very challenging decision, particularly coming to the point where that decision needs to be made.

There's often conflict within the family as to whether, you know, some individuals, whether it might be a spouse or partner or adult children, believe it's the right decision to feelings of guilt. to then extending to challenges navigating the choice of a residential care setting and adapting to a loved one's placement in some type of residential long-term care setting.

There's often conflict within the family as to whether, you know, some individuals, whether it might be a spouse or partner or adult children, believe it's the right decision to feelings of guilt. to then extending to challenges navigating the choice of a residential care setting and adapting to a loved one's placement in some type of residential long-term care setting.

So one has to think of it, I think, from the perspective of the care recipient, from the family, and then also from a temporal perspective in terms of timings. When does it happen under what circumstances does it happen?

So one has to think of it, I think, from the perspective of the care recipient, from the family, and then also from a temporal perspective in terms of timings. When does it happen under what circumstances does it happen?

For example, if someone is caring for a loved one living with dementia for many years at home and the decision is made maybe due to safety or some other reasons to, you know, we have to 24 hour care is needed. That's a very different circumstance versus let's say a crisis occurs, a fall happens, maybe wandering happens.

For example, if someone is caring for a loved one living with dementia for many years at home and the decision is made maybe due to safety or some other reasons to, you know, we have to 24 hour care is needed. That's a very different circumstance versus let's say a crisis occurs, a fall happens, maybe wandering happens.

Someone is admitted to a hospital and then the discharge social worker tells the family, you know, you need to make a decision. we believe it's in the best interest for you and your loved one to go to a nursing home. Here are some beds that are available. That's a very, very different circumstance under which to make, again, a very complicated decision.

Someone is admitted to a hospital and then the discharge social worker tells the family, you know, you need to make a decision. we believe it's in the best interest for you and your loved one to go to a nursing home. Here are some beds that are available. That's a very, very different circumstance under which to make, again, a very complicated decision.

A decision, I might add, there's never a right or wrong answer to.

A decision, I might add, there's never a right or wrong answer to.

That's a great point, Clarence. And, you know, I emphasize the point of temporality. And what I mean by that is time. How often do families have the sufficient information and time to make that reasoned decision? We very often do not plan ahead when it comes to long-term care needs. I mean,

That's a great point, Clarence. And, you know, I emphasize the point of temporality. And what I mean by that is time. How often do families have the sufficient information and time to make that reasoned decision? We very often do not plan ahead when it comes to long-term care needs. I mean,