After intensive care, recovery may be characterized by physical, psychological, cognitive, and existential impacts, while relatives often take on a central role in everyday life after discharge. Despite this, knowledge remains limited about how older persons and their relatives experience life after thoracic intensive care, particularly among those who do not participate in regular post-ICU follow-up.

The project studies older persons who have undergone cardiac surgery and received care for at least 96 hours in a thoracic intensive care unit. Through qualitative interviews with patients and relatives, retrospective medical record review, and analysis of patient-reported health using RAND-36, the project examines recovery, health, support needs, and barriers to follow-up over time.

Particular attention is directed toward experiences that risk remaining invisible in research and clinical follow-up, for example among persons with diverse linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic life circumstances. The project is expected to contribute in-depth knowledge about older persons’ life situations after thoracic intensive care and about how healthcare follow-up can be developed. The aim is to strengthen the conditions for more equitable, person-centred, and needs-adapted care and follow-up after thoracic intensive care for older persons and their relatives.