Using Phenomenological Hermeneutics to Understand the Experiences of Managers Working with Quality Improvement Strategies in an Assisted Living Facility

This qualitative research project aimed to gain an understanding of the experiences of managers who participated in the implementation of quality improvement projects in an assisted living facility. This study employed hermeneutic phenomenology as a research methodology, whereby managers working in an assisted living facility were invited to participate in a 60-75 min semi-structured interview. Six managers participated in the interviews. Five themes were developed from data analysis: (1) Quality improvement (QI) and resident-centered care go hand-in-hand; (2) Constant on-going commitment to continuous improvement is needed to implement QI; (3) Learning to communicate with team-members and residents/caregivers is important to implement QI; (4) Feedback is essential for the implementation of QI initiatives; and (5) Implementing new QI initiatives can be challenging. The managers emphasized the need for leadership commitment, the usage of standardized communication methods, and feedback strategies to ensure the success of QI initiatives. Additionally, the managers indicated that QI is directly related to resident-centered care and that efforts should be made to collect feedback from residents to further improve processes. Additionally, challenges surrounding the implementation of QI have been described. Since there is a scarcity of research on the implementation of QI methods in assisted living facilities, this study can provide practical tips to leaders and administrators.