Family resilience for older patients requiring long-term care: a concept analysis

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.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Public Health, 2026 · DOI ↗