The role and influence of micro-cultures in long-term care on the mental health and wellbeing of older people: a scoping review of evidence

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults,Volume 17, Issue 3, September 2016. Purpose This paper explores evidence about the role played by micro-cultures in long term care settings in shaping residents ’ mental health and wellbeing. Design/methodology/approach A Scoping Review on micro-cultures in long-term care, including database search of academic and grey literature using pre-determined combinations of key terms and specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. The review followed the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Findings Micro-cultures (localised, distinctive cultures of a small group of people) in long-term care are complex, multi-faceted and multi-directional; they include social dynamics as well as structural and environmental factors. Although much work has been done on the nature of micro cultures, limited work has focused on long term care for older people. Initiatives to promote the mental health and wellbeing of residents rarely consider micro-cultures in any holistic way; they tend to be taken into account either as part of a contextual back-drop, or as a uni-directional process often equated with the concept of ‘care culture’ or ‘organisational culture’. Originality/value The role played by micro-cultures in influencing the mental health and wellbeing of older people living in long-term care settings is significantly under researched. The findings of this review suggest that their complexity and multidimensionality challenges re...
Source: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research