Insight into the experiences of caregivers of older adults in long‐term care homes: A photovoice study

AIMS: To explore the lived experiences of caregivers of people living in long-term care (LTC) homes during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential supports and resources needed to improve caregivers' quality of life. BACKGROUND: Carers (or care partners) of adults in LTC contribute substantially to the health and well-being of their loved ones by providing physical care, emotional support and companionship. Despite their critical role, little is known about how caregivers have been impacted by the pandemic. DESIGN: An interpretive descriptive approach that incorporated the photovoice method was used. METHODS: Using a purposive sampling strategy, six family carers in Ontario, Canada were recruited between September and December 2021. Over a 4-week period, caregivers took pictures depicting their experience of the pandemic that were shared in a virtual focus group. Visual and text data were analysed using thematic analysis with an inductive approach. FINDINGS: Caregivers expressed feelings of frustration, confusion and joy. Emerging themes included: (i) feeling like a 'criminal' amidst visitor restrictions and rules; (ii) experiencing uncertainty and disappointment in the quality of care of long-term care homes; (iii) going through burnout; and (iv) focusing on small joys and cherished memories. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of visual and textual methods provided unique insight into the mental distress, isolation and intense emotional burdens experienced by caregivers during the pandemic. IMPACT: Our findings underscore the need for LTC organizations to work in unison with caregivers to optimize the care of residents and support the mental health of caregivers. REPORTING METHOD: This work adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS: The caregivers included in the study were involved in the co-creative process as active contributors informing the design and validation of the codes and themes.