Family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care: a concept analysis
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Nursing, Kashi Prefecture Second People’s Hospital
- 2School of Nursing, Fudan University
- 3Fudan University Interdisciplinary Innovation Team for Smart Eldercare and Social Support (FDU-iCARE)
- 4China Research Center on Disability, Fudan University
Abstract
Aim: To analyse the concept of family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care. Design: Concept analysis.
Methods: Walker and Avant’s eight-step concept analysis method was applied. Seven Chinese and English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu and SinoMed) were searched from inception to 15 September 2026 for studies addressing family resilience in the context of older patients requiring long-term care. A total of 30 papers were included.
Results: Four defining attributes were identified: (1) positive cognitive appraisal of adversity, (2) adaptive reorganization and problem solving, (3) supportive intergenerational interaction, and (4) proactive engagement with external resources. The antecedents were (1) health status of the older adult and the caregiver, (2) socio-demographic characteristics of family members, (3) disease cognition, and (4) family resources. The consequences were (1) reduced psychological distress and improved mental health, (2) improved quality of care and patient outcomes, (3) enhanced family adaptation and restored functioning, and (4) family growth, that is, a rebuilt and stronger family.
Conclusion: The analysis yielded a preliminary conceptual model in which family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care is understood as a recursive, dynamic family-level process. A clearly defined concept provides a theoretical basis for developing population-specific assessment tools and family-level psychosocial interventions, and underscores the public mental health relevance of supporting families engaged in long-term care. No Patient or Public Contribution.
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BibTeX
@article{abulaiti2026family,
title = {{Family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care: a concept analysis}},
author = {Bahaerguli Abulaiti and Abudureheman Mijiti and Rongjing Xu and Hefang Wang and Yan Li and Shoumei Jia and Anni Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1962121},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1962121/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care: a concept analysis
AU - Bahaerguli Abulaiti
AU - Abudureheman Mijiti
AU - Rongjing Xu
AU - Hefang Wang
AU - Yan Li
AU - Shoumei Jia
AU - Anni Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1962121
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1962121/full
AB - Aim: To analyse the concept of family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care. Design: Concept analysis. Methods: Walker and Avant’s eight-step concept analysis method was applied. Seven Chinese and English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu and SinoMed) were searched from inception to 15 September 2026 for studies addressing family resilience in the context of older patients requiring long-term care. A total of 30 papers were included. Results: Four defining attributes were identified: (1) positive cognitive appraisal of adversity, (2) adaptive reorganization and problem solving, (3) supportive intergenerational interaction, and (4) proactive engagement with external resources. The antecedents were (1) health status of the older adult and the caregiver, (2) socio-demographic characteristics of family members, (3) disease cognition, and (4) family resources. The consequences were (1) reduced psychological distress and improved mental health, (2) improved quality of care and patient outcomes, (3) enhanced family adaptation and restored functioning, and (4) family growth, that is, a rebuilt and stronger family. Conclusion: The analysis yielded a preliminary conceptual model in which family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care is understood as a recursive, dynamic family-level process. A clearly defined concept provides a theoretical basis for developing population-specific assessment tools and family-level psychosocial interventions, and underscores the public mental health relevance of supporting families engaged in long-term care. No Patient or Public Contribution.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -