scholarly journals The arts in dementia care education: a developmental study

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Zeilig ◽  
Fiona Poland ◽  
Chris Fox ◽  
John Killick
Keyword(s):  
Care Home ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Developmental Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Interactive Mode ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
The Arts ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Contextual Framework

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline the first stage of an innovative developmental study addressing the educational and emotional needs of dementia care home staff using arts-based materials. Design/methodology/approach – The arts workshop was developed using a mixed methods approach. This included ethnographic observation within a dementia care home, in-depth interviews with senior care home managers, a thematic analysis of focus groups and the development of a comic. At all stages, the multi-disciplinary project team collaborated closely with the care home staff. A comprehensive literature review of the policy, practice and academic background to dementia workforce education provided a contextual framework for the study. Perspectives from the medical humanities informed the project. Findings – Despite the high prevalence of people living with dementia in care homes, there is a lack of appropriate training for the workforce that provides their care. This study found that an arts-based workshop offering an interactive mode of education was an effective way to engage this workforce. The workshop empowered participants to recognise their skills and focus on person-centred care; reflecting current recommendations for dementia care. Research limitations/implications – The workshop was delivered in a single dementia care home and therefore findings may not be generalisable. In addition, the management did not take a direct part in the delivery of the workshop and therefore their views are not included in this study. Practical implications – The arts-based approach can offer a means of engaging the dementia care workforce in education linked to their experience of caring. Originality/value – The paper identifies the gap in relevant education for the dementia care workforce and outlines one possible way of addressing this gap using the arts.

Enjoying the front-line of dementia care: an integrative analysis of what care home staff report makes them happy at work

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Manthorpe
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
People With Dementia

Purpose – High turnover of staff in the long-term dementia care sector contributes to poor quality care and lack of continuity of care in the UK and many other countries. The purpose of this paper is to explore the research evidence on what care assistants report they enjoy when working in front-line dementia care jobs in long-term care facilities. Design/methodology/approach – An integrative analysis was used to study research findings focusing on the front-line workforce in care homes. The literature review sought to capture key findings, including overviews of research, from studies from 1990 to mid-2014 that have considered the positive experiences of front-line care home staff working with people with dementia. Findings – There is a great deal of research investigating care home staff's job satisfaction. Much of this highlights the importance of personal, social and managerial relationships. Common themes continue to be reported. There is potential for work on improving care assistant experiences in care homes but also a need to address long-standing inequities affecting the care home sector. Research limitations/implications – Some studies are not precise about which staff groups they are investigating in studies about care homes and many concentrate on the problems staff report. Measures of job satisfaction vary. When exploring dementia-related care not all studies are clear if care home residents have dementia or not. Practical implications – Many studies have investigated the views of care assistants working with people with dementia in care homes that address happiness in their work, often reported as job or work satisfaction, and these should be consulted when developing dementia services or managing care homes. As with other parts of the social care workforce, employers and managers need to be aware of effective and acceptable workforce reforms and ways to reduce turnover. Originality/value – This review suggests the value of investigating positive aspects of care work with people with dementia living in care homes. Greater attention could be paid to job satisfaction in social care more widely.

scholarly journals Complementary therapy for advanced dementia palliation in nursing homes

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-432
Author(s):  
Bryan Mitchell ◽  
Graham A. Jackson ◽  
Barbara Sharp ◽  
Debbie Tolson
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Complementary Therapy ◽  
Advanced Dementia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Home Staff

PurposeThis paper reports on an action research study that aimed to collaboratively develop a complementary therapy care intervention to augment palliative care choices available to nursing home residents with advanced dementia.Design/methodology/approachAn action research design was adopted that consisted of a series of action cycles involving collaborative exploration, problem-solving planning, development and evidence gathering. A combination of mixed methods was used when gaining data at the different stages, including face to face delivered questionnaires, observational notes, focus groups, and the objective measure of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory adapted for Nursing Homes (NPI-NH).FindingsCare home staff and relatives considered the use of Complementary Therapy to be a helpful intervention promoting that it can reduce a sense of loneliness and provide companionship for residents experiencing distress. Analysis of NPI-NH scores showed a reduction in presenting neuropsychiatric behaviours associated with stress and distress.Research limitations/implicationsDiffering levels of participant group engagement may affect this study’s findings as it was noted that care home staff provided a fuller contribution to the project in comparison to relatives.Practical implicationsImplementation guidance is needed when implementing complementary therapy within the nursing home practice to promote consistency and successful integration of an intervention that is not provided as routine care.Originality/valueThe findings of this study are encouraging and demonstrate the acceptability of complementary therapies to residents with advanced dementia, where positive impacts on otherwise difficult to address dementia symptoms related to stress and distress are highlighted.

Between practice, policy and politics: Music therapy and the Dementia Strategy, 2009

Dementia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neta Spiro ◽  
Camilla L Farrant ◽  
Mercédès Pavlicevic
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Direct Experience ◽  
Music Therapists ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
Living Well ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

Does current music therapy practice address the goals encapsulated in the UK Department of Health document, Living well with dementia: a national dementia strategy (the Dementia Strategy) published in 2009? A survey elicited the views of clients, family members, music therapists, care home staff and care home managers, about this question by focusing on the relationship between music therapy and the 17 objectives outlined in the Dementia Strategy. The results showed that the objectives that are related to direct activity of the music therapists (such as care and understanding of the condition) were seen as most fulfilled by music therapy, while those regarding practicalities (such as living within the community) were seen as least fulfilled. Although the responses from the four groups of participants were similar, differences for some questions suggest that people's direct experience of music therapy influences their views. This study suggests that many aspects of the Dementia Strategy are already seen as being achieved. The findings suggest that developments of both music therapy practices and government strategies on dementia care may benefit from being mutually informed.

scholarly journals The “Cameos of Care Homes” project – care home staff’s Vanguard involvement and reflections

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Jess Harris ◽  
Jill Manthorpe
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
Learning Cultures ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The Cameos of Care Homes project is an opportunity to use the medium of film to showcase the experiences and reflections of frontline care home staff whose employers participated in the National Health Service (NHS) England Vanguard programme. Reflecting on their involvement in one of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Vanguards, 12 staff describe, in front of the camera, the impact on themselves and their colleagues, on their care for their older residents, and on the wider culture of the care home. The paper aims to discuss this initiative. Design/methodology/approach The paper reports the experiences of care home staff that were purposefully recorded on film about their participation in a care home Vanguard. The recruitment of the care homes and staff is described, as are the development of interview questions and approaches needed when filming is considered as a research method. Findings Participating care home staff reported that their involvement in the Vanguard programme had improved knowledge, confidence, morale, communication skills and the homes’ learning cultures. They were enthusiastic about reporting their experiences on film. Examples were given of proactive early support from local NHS staff leading to improvements in care, thereby reducing demand on the NHS. However, participation was resource intensive for care homes. Care home staff hoped the support that accompanied the Vanguard programme would continue but were uncertain to what degree this would happen once the Vanguard programme ceased. Research limitations/implications The interviews were undertaken with a self-selecting group of care home staff from two care homes operating in one of the six Vanguard sites in England. By their very nature, interviews for a public film cannot provide anonymity. Practical implications Researchers seeking the views of care home staff may wish to consider filming interviews and presenting the film as a research output that is engaging and informative for care home and wider audiences. Originality/value The paper presents an analysis of filmed interviews with care home managers and care workers working with older people. Their views on the Vanguard initiative have not been widely considered, in contrast to the sizeable literature relating to NHS activity and expenditure.

Perceptions of care home staff on the effect of the care home environment for individuals living with dementia

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Dawn Boyden
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Staff Involvement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore what existing literature about the care home environment for people with dementia reveals. It also evaluates the implications for practice, to show which parts of the care home environment staff feel have the most impact on the day to day lives of residents living with dementia. In turn, this paper seeks to feedback to care home management to improve practice and to contribute to research in care homes in the future. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review forms the basis of this research, in addition to four semi-structured interview conducted with care home staff of different roles; allowing them to share their experiences with little restriction. Participants were recruited through informal discussions with the researcher before the research took place, as part of her job role and using purposive sampling. Findings – Data were analysed using computer software Nvivo and identified four main categories which all participants discussed: social interaction, staff involvement, staff restrictions, staff involvement and physical elements of the environment. This research has shown the importance of staff presence in the care home environment to facilitate social interaction among residents with dementia. Research limitations/implications – The sample is very small due to staff not having the time to take part in the interview and this itself is a key finding. Interviews were able to capture feelings but not the overall experience of interaction between resident and staff, which observations would have achieved if there was more time to conduct the research. Originality/value – A literature review and qualitative research signifying the importance of staff presence in the care home setting in order for the residents to socially engage in their environment. However, it has also show the lack of time that is face by staff and the impact this has on people living with dementia.

scholarly journals “Music in Mind” and Manchester Camerata: an exploratory qualitative evaluation of engagement in one care home in Northwest England

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Campbell ◽  
Nick Ponsillo ◽  
Paul Budd ◽  
John Keady
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
North West ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
The North ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Moment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider the work conducted by Manchester Camerata (an internationally renowned and world-class chamber orchestra) programme for people with dementia in one care home in the north west of England. The study aim was to undertake an exploratory qualitative evaluation of experiences of those taking part in its ten week “Music in Mind” programme, namely care home staff, Manchester Camerata musicians/organisational staff, care home activity workers, the assigned music therapist and visiting family carers. Design/methodology/approach During July-September 2014 a sample of 11 participants was recruited and a total of 19 interviews conducted over ten weeks. All respondents were offered the opportunity to be interviewed more than once. Interview data were supplemented by information gathered at two musicians de-brief sessions and from two activity workers’ diaries. All data was organised using NVivo 10 and thematic analysis applied to the whole data set. People with dementia could not be included in the sample owing to the time limitations on starting and completing the evaluation. Findings This analytical process generated three overarching themes: Making it Happen, which referred to the contextual, structural and organisational considerations necessary for setting up the engagement programme; Orchestrating Person-centred Care, which addressed the importance of building relationships through person to person communication; Making Musical Connections, which identified the sensory and embodied qualities of live music and the need to capture in-the-moment experiences. Originality/value Whilst each of these theme headings has slightly different meanings and applications to each of the participating stakeholders, the evaluation highlights the potential power of improvised music making to equalise and harmonise the group dynamics by co-creating “in-the-moment” experiences.

scholarly journals Staff experiences of implementing Dementia Care Mapping to improve the quality of dementia care in care homes: a qualitative process evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alys Wyn Griffiths ◽  
Olivia C. Robinson ◽  
Emily Shoesmith ◽  
Rachael Kelley ◽  
Claire A. Surr
Keyword(s):  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
Care Mapping ◽  
Dementia Care Mapping

Abstract Background Dementia Care Mapping™ (DCM) is a widely used, staff-led, psychosocial intervention to support the implementation of person-centred care. Efficacy evaluations in care homes have produced mixed outcomes, with implementation problems identified. Understanding the experiences of staff trained to lead DCM implementation is crucial to understanding implementation challenges, yet this has rarely been formally explored. This study aimed to examine the experiences of care home staff trained to lead DCM implementation, within a large cluster randomised controlled trial. Methods Process evaluation including, semi-structured interviews with 27 trained mappers from 16 intervention allocated care homes. Data were analysed using template variant of thematic analysis. Results Three main themes were identified 1) Preparedness to lead - While mappers overwhelmingly enjoyed DCM training, many did not have the personal attributes required to lead practice change and felt DCM training did not adequately equip them to implement it in practice. For many their expectations of the mapper role at recruitment contrasted with the reality once they began to attempt implementation; 2) Transferring knowledge into practice – Due to the complex nature of DCM, developing mastery required regular practice of DCM skills, which was difficult to achieve within available time and resources. Gaining engagement of and transferring learning to the wider staff team was challenging, with benefits of DCM largely limited to the mappers themselves, rather than realised at a care home level; and 3) Sustaining DCM - This required a perception of DCM as beneficial, allocation of adequate resources and support for the process which was often not able to be provided, for the mapper role to fit with the staff member’s usual duties and for DCM to fit with the home’s ethos and future plans for care. Conclusions Many care homes may not have staff with the requisite skills to lead practice change using DCM, or the requisite staffing, resources or leadership support required for sustainable implementation. Adaptations to the DCM tool, process and training may be required to reduce its complexity and burden and increase chances of implementation success. Alternatively, models of implementation not reliant on care home staff may be required.

scholarly journals What makes a good handover in a care home for older people?

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-176
Author(s):  
Jo Moriarty ◽  
Caroline Norrie ◽  
Jill Manthorpe ◽  
Valerie Lipman ◽  
Rekha Elaswarapu
Keyword(s):  
Care Home ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Good Contrast ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the content, purpose and effectiveness of the handover of information between care home staff beginning and completing a shift. Design/methodology/approach This was an exploratory study drawing on ethnographic methods. A total of 27 interviews with a range of care home staff, including managers, registered nurses, senior care workers and care workers were undertaken in five care homes selected to give a good contrast in terms of size, ownership, shift patterns and type of handover. Findings Most handovers were short – lasting 15 min or so – and were held in the office or secluded area in which staff could talk privately. They lasted longer in one home in which the incoming and outgoing shifts physically visited each resident’s room and the communal spaces. Staff felt that handovers were important for the efficient running of the home as well as to alert everyone to changes in a resident’s health or important events, such as a hospital appointment. In one home, handheld devices enabled staff to follow a resident’s care plan and update what was happening in real time. Research limitations/implications This was a small scale study based on data from a limited number of care homes. Practical implications The increasing popularity of 12 h shifts means that many homes only hold two short handovers early in the morning and in the evening when the night staff arrive. There appears to be a trend to reduce the number of staff paid to attend handover. Despite this, handovers remain an important component of the routine of a care home. The information contained in handover relates to the running of the care home, as well as residents’ wellbeing, suggesting that, while their content overlaps with written records in the home, they are not superfluous. Originality/value Although the literature on handovers in hospitals is extensive, this appears to be the first published study of handover practices in care homes.

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