Condon, Amanda2026-07-232026-07-232026-07-212026-07-212026-07-23http://hdl.handle.net/1993/39898Statement of the Problem Accessing traditional office-based primary care for homebound patients can be complicated, leading to reliance on acute care. Home care and primary care providers are essential in supporting community-based care for homebound people, and understanding their relationship and how they approach care is imperative. This study explored how primary care and home care providers identify homebound individuals, determine care approaches, identify and collaborate with partners, and how social and professional identities influence care approaches and interprofessional collaboration. Methods This qualitative study employed a social constructionist epistemology. It introduced a novel Collaborative Identity Framework that links social and professional identities to the policy and contextual environments in which home care and primary care providers work. Interviews with home care and primary care providers were developed using appreciative inquiry and a convergent interview approach to explore experiences of caring for homebound people. Data analysis involved descriptive and inductive thematic analysis of interview transcripts. Results Nine participants, with diverse social and professional identities, shared their experiences as part of this study. Three foundational enablers of optimal care for homebound people were identified through thematic analysis: team-based care, communication, and collaboration. Macro-level decisions also influence how home care and primary care providers care for homebound people, and identified themes included use and implementation of technology, intentional program and policy design and commitment to relationships. The novel Collaborative Identity Model describes identity evolution at the interface of the foundational and macro levels. Conclusions Sustainable, integrated care for the homebound population requires intentional system design, interoperable digital tools, and a shift toward collaborative identities. This work can inform policy and decision-makers in designing and supporting models of care for homebound people in the community. As team-based care becomes a focus of sustainable primary care delivery, this work can guide the optimal implementation and development of care models and contribute to the existing literature on interprofessional collaboration.engPrimary CareHome CareHomebound populationInterprofessional Collaboration