ERNA

Strengthen collaborative partnerships between families and staff in long-term care.

In ERNA, we explore:

  • How can partnership-based collaboration between family members and staff be strengthened through information, communication, practical help, and support?

  • What needs do family members have when supporting and accompanying the person with care needs?

Our aim is to identify ways to enable family members to participate as partners in care and decision-making processes.

Results

Tools developed so far
We have already developed initial resources:
Person-centred care in long-term care
The Magnet concept
Further resources are currently in development and will be available in Q1 2026.

To enable and strengthen partnership-based collaboration between family members and staff, person-centred care is an established, evidence-based approach. In ERNA, we have further developed this concept using plain, easy-to-understand language (based on DIN SPEC “Leichte Sprache” by DIN e.V.).

Implementing person-centred care in long-term care facilities also requires changes to organisational structures. The established Magnet concept from the United States is an excellent, evidence-based approach to shaping organisational structures in a person-centred way. In ERNA, we adapted the concept for long-term care facilities and developed it in plain, easy-to-understand language (based on DIN SPEC “Leichte Sprache” by DIN e.V.).

Detailed information for researchers is available on the HES-SO website.
ERNA is derived from the English project title:
Improving nursing team functioning for pERson-ceNtred cAre – a randomised crossover trial in Swiss long-term care facilities.

Sponsor ERNA