Rising life expectancies in many parts of the world in recent decades has increased the importance of chronic-disease and long-term-care issues. This issue of The Journal of Nursing Research presents a serial of articles on long-term care, chronic illness, and the work of nurses, all of which are aimed at strengthening scholarly knowledge related to nursing care.

"Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. It can be overwhelming, not only for people who have dementia, but also for their carers and families, who globally provide the majority of care and support." (World Health Organization, 2020). The burden of care and quality of life of family caregivers are also important issues deserving greater focus. Wang et al. found that more working hours and lower work efficiency were both associated with decreased quality of life. According to Hsiao and colleagues, art and reminiscence therapy has beneficial effects on dementia-associated agitated behaviors, which are the main causes of early institutionalization and a source of caregiver exhaustion. Meanwhile, delirium is another common issue in long-term care that is easily overlooked in intensive care units. High prevalence and incidence rates of delirium occur among older patients in intensive care units and are accompanied by adverse outcomes. Li et al. identified the incidence and risk factors of delirium in older patients, suggesting that healthcare providers should pay greater attention to sleep disturbance in their patients and the use of physical restraints in order to prevent delirium.

The declines in physical function and increased impact of chronic diseases experienced later in life increase mortality rates and lower quality of life among older adults. Liu et al. reported that the mechanism of autonomy influences functional capacity and life satisfaction. Therefore, encouraging older adults living in long-term care facilities to participate in physical activities and maintain autonomy may improve their life satisfaction. In addition, other articles in this issue address chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, critical illness, and hemodialysis, enriching and broadening nursing-care knowledge.

Nurse role and nurse participation are crucial to health policy development. Barzegar Safari et al. suggested that increasing partnerships with nurses at the senior levels of health services management and supporting nursing professional organizations in the field of health policy may be effective strategies for promoting greater nursing involvement in health policymaking. In addition, Movahedi et al. concluded that having a positive perception of organizational politics increases job satisfaction and decreases job stress, burnout level, and turnover intention.

Enjoy this issue of The Journal of Nursing Research!

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