Exploring the Sources and Experiences of Joy in Caregiving: Insights From Formal Caregivers in Long-Term Care

Objectives: To explore and understand the sources and experiences of joy in caregiving among formal caregivers in Canadian long-term care (LTC).

Design: A qualitative study with interpretative descriptive design.

Setting and participants: The participants consisted of 20 formal caregivers from a large public LTC home in British Columbia, Canada, focusing on those with at least 6 months of direct caregiving experience.

Methods: Convenience sampling was conducted to recruit participants. Data were collected through 3 focus groups, with discussions moderated by the primary investigator, and were audio recorded and transcribed. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes, combining inductive and deductive strategies. To enhance rigor and trustworthiness, the research team engaged in reflective practices, leveraging diverse expertise, and ensuring a rich description of the study context. The study received ethical approval, and participant confidentiality was maintained through pseudonyms.

Results: Three interconnected themes of joy in caregiving were identified: (1) Joy in caregiving is a relational and dynamic process that evolves over time and coexists with other emotions, such as sadness and grief. (2) Joy is driven by an attitude shaped by the environment, stemming from an internal attitude, and contributing to a deeper sense of fulfillment despite challenges. (3) Joy in caregiving builds personal team resilience that reduces burnout, fostering compassion and creating a supportive atmosphere through gratitude and shared experiences, benefiting caregivers and residents.

Conclusions and implications: This study highlights the relational and evolving nature of joy in caregiving, the influence of internal attitudes and supportive environments, and the impact of joy on resilience and burnout. The findings contribute to characterizing how joy functions within caregiving contexts-specifically for LTC workers-and its broader implications for caregiver well-being and team dynamics.