Connection Over Convenience: Why Communication Matters More Than Logistics in LTC Visits

TL;DR

This study finds that residents' ability to communicate verbally has a bigger impact on visitor satisfaction in long-term care facilities than logistical factors like travel time or facility type.

Contribution

The study identifies verbal communication ability as a key predictor of visitor satisfaction in LTC settings, challenging assumptions about the importance of logistics.

Findings

Facility characteristics like travel time and type were not significantly associated with visitor satisfaction.

Verbal communication ability of residents was significantly positively linked to visitor satisfaction.

Recognition of visitors and alertness did not significantly predict visitor satisfaction.

Abstract

Residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities often experience social isolation, even with regular visits from family and friends. Satisfaction with these visits supports relationship maintenance and residents’ emotional well-being. Both structural factors and interpersonal dynamics may shape visitor satisfaction, yet their relative contributions remain underexplored. Identifying these predictors can inform programs that foster family engagement and enhance residents’ social well-being. This cross-sectional study examined whether LTC facility characteristics (facility type, travel time, length of stay) and resident communication factors (verbal communication ability, recognition of visitor, alertness) were associated with visitor satisfaction. An online national survey was completed by 175 community-dwelling adults (M age = 49.58, SD = 17.86, range 20-82) who had visited a loved one in LTC within the past 12 months. Pearson correlations assessed associations between visitor satisfaction and key variables. No significant associations emerged between visitor satisfaction and facility characteristics (years living in facility: B = 0.05, p = .09; minutes traveled: B = 0.001, p = 0.82; independent/assisted living: B = 0.19, p = 0.46; nursing home/skilled nursing: B = 0.17, p = 0.42). Verbal communication ability was significantly positively associated with visitor satisfaction (B = 0.18, p = 0.02). Recognition of visitor and alertness were not significant predictors (recognition: B = 0.04, p = 0.61; alertness: B = –0.08, p = 0.39). Findings suggest that residents’ verbal communication may play a more critical role in shaping visitor satisfaction than structural or logistical aspects of visits.