scholarly journals Meaning in Life for Patients With Severe Dementia: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Professionals' Interpretations

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tor-Arne Isene ◽  
Sigrid Helene Kjørven Haug ◽  
Hans Stifoss-Hanssen ◽  
Lars J. Danbolt ◽  
Liv S. Ødbehr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Round Table ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Severe Dementia ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Home Context ◽  
High Competence

The need for meaning in life is a key aspect of being human, and a central issue in the psychology of religion. Understanding experience of meaning for persons with severe dementia is challenging due to the impairments associated with the illness. Despite these challenges, this article argues that meaning in life is as important for a person with severe dementia as it is for everyone else. This study was conducted in a Norwegian hospital and nursing home context and was part of a research project on meaning in life for persons with severe dementia. The study builds on two other studies which focused on how meaning-making and experience of meaningfulness appeared in patients with severe dementia. By presenting the findings from these two studies for a group of healthcare professionals and introducing them to research on meaning in life, the aim of this study was to explore how healthcare professionals interpret the patients' experience of meaning in life in practise for patients with severe dementia in a hospital and nursing home context, and to highlight its clinical implications. The study was conducted using a qualitative method with exploratory design. The data were collected at a round table conference, a method inspired by a mode of action research called “co-operative inquiry.” Altogether 27 professional healthcarers, from a variety of professions, with high competence in dementia care participated together with six researchers authoring this article. This study revealed that healthcare professionals were constantly dealing with different forms of meaning in their everyday care for people with dementia. The findings also showed clear connexions between understanding of meaning and fundamental aspects of good dementia care. Meaning corresponded well with the principles of person-centred care, and this compatibility allowed the healthcare professionals to associate meaning in life as a perspective into their work without having much prior knowledge or being familiar with the use of this perspective. The study points out that awareness of meaning in life as an integrated perspective in clinical practise will contribute to a broader and enhanced repertoire, and hence to improved dementia care. Facilitating experience of meaning calls for increased resources in personnel and competence in future dementia care.

scholarly journals Facilitators and barriers to implement nurse-led interventions in long-term dementia care: a qualitative interview study with Swiss nursing experts and managers

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Hirt ◽  
Melanie Karrer ◽  
Laura Adlbrecht ◽  
Susi Saxer ◽  
Adelheid Zeller
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

Abstract Background To support the implementation of nurse-led interventions in long-term dementia care, in-depth knowledge of specific supporting factors and barriers is required. Conditions and structures of caring for people with dementia differ widely, depending on the country and the care context. Our study aimed to describe the experiences and opinions of nursing experts and managers with regard to facilitators and barriers to the implementation of nurse-led interventions in long-term dementia care. Methods We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using individual interviews based on qualitative vignettes as a useful stimulus to generate narrations allowing to study peoples’ perceptions and beliefs. The study took place in nursing homes in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and in the Principality of Liechtenstein using purposive sampling. We intended to conduct the interviews face-to-face in a quiet room according to the participant’s choice. However, due to the lockdown of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, we performed interviews face-to-face and by video. We analysed data thematically following Braun and Clarke to achieve a detailed, nuanced description. To verify our interpretation and to ensure congruence with participants’ perspectives, we conducted member checks. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) served to structure our manuscript. Results Six dyads of nursing home managers and nursing experts from six nursing homes took part in our study (n = 12). Our thematic analysis yielded seven themes reflecting facilitators and barriers to implementing nurse-led interventions in long-term dementia care: «A common attitude and cohesion within the organization», «Commitment on several levels», «A needs-oriented implementation», «The effect and the public perception of the intervention», «A structured and guided implementation process», «Supporting knowledge and competencies», as well as «Resources for implementing the intervention». Conclusions To support the implementation of nurse-led interventions in long-term dementia care, active commitment-building seems essential. It is necessary that the value of the intervention is perceptible.Commitment-building is the precondition to reach the persons involved, such as nursing home managers, nursing staff, residents and relatives. Furthermore, nurses should precisely inform about the intervention. It is necessary that the value of the intervention is perceptible. In addition, nurses should adjust the interventions to the situational needs of people with dementia, thus. Therefore, it is important to support dementia-specific competencies in long-term care. Findings indicate that the barrier is determined by the intervention and its implementation – and not by the behaviour of the person with dementia.

scholarly journals Know-Me: A Toolkit for Designing Personalised Dementia Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5662
Author(s):  
Gubing Wang ◽  
Armagan Albayrak ◽  
Eef Hogervorst ◽  
Tischa J.M. van der Cammen
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Concept Evaluation ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Student Projects

Personalisation is a crucial element in providing person-centred care for people with dementia. This paper presents the development and evaluation of a design toolkit to facilitate the work of designers and healthcare professionals in personalising dementia care. This toolkit, named “Know-me”, was grounded in the findings of Ergonomics in Aging, Co-design, and Data-enabled Design, derived from literature review and from the field during a four-year doctorate project. “Know-me” was designed to be easily accessible, flexible, and engaging, providing concrete and hands-on guidance for designers and healthcare professionals to use in designing for personalised dementia care. A proof-of-concept evaluation of the “Know-me” toolkit was conducted via student projects on design for dementia care. During this process, we found that “Know-me” could be adapted flexibly so that the care team could use some of the tools by themselves. A feature-by-feature comparison of the “Know-me” toolkit with similar state-of-the-art toolkits was conducted, and based upon this, the strengths and weaknesses of the “Know-me” toolkit are discussed. This preliminary study indicates that the “Know-me” toolkit is a helpful addition to the current pool of toolkits on designing for dementia care.

scholarly journals Neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Manera ◽  
Julie Brousse ◽  
Pierre Foulon ◽  
Audrey Deudon ◽  
Elsa Leone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Home Healthcare ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
People With Dementia

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are very common in people with dementia-related disorders, and are responsible for a large share of the suffering of patients and caregivers. Current evidence suggests that non-pharmacological treatments are promising solutions to NPS. However, a critical factor in the treatment success is represented by the involvement of professional and family caregivers. Here we briefly present “No panic in the nursing home”, an educational “serious game” designed for healthcare professionals working in nursing homes. Based on an educational program previously designed by our group, “No Panic in the Nursing Home”  teaches professional caregivers how to deal with NPS of dementia. The player takes the role of a nursing home nurse, and is confronted with practical situations in which he/she needs to decide how to behave. Results collected in three nursing homes suggest that the game is considered as very interesting by nursing home healthcare professionals, even by persons with no previous experience with videogames.

Prevalence and Severity of Dementia in Nursing Home Residents

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 166-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Sofie Helvik ◽  
Knut Engedal ◽  
Jūratė Šaltytė Benth ◽  
Geir Selbæk
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Unit Length ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Severe Dementia ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Severity Of Dementia ◽  
Single Men

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the presence and severity of dementia in two large cross-sectional samples of nursing home residents from 2004/2005 and 2010/2011. Methods: Demographic information as well as data on the type of nursing home unit, length of stay before assessment, physical health, regularly used prescribed drugs and Clinical Dementia Rating scale scores were used in the analyses. Logistic and linear regression models for hierarchical data were estimated. Results: The odds of the occurrence and of a greater severity of dementia were higher in 2010/2011 than in 2004/2005. Independent of the time of study, married men had more severe dementia than single men, and single women had more severe dementia than single men. Conclusion: The findings may reflect the increase in the need for more nursing home beds designed for people with dementia between 2004/2005 and 2010/2011.

scholarly journals ‘I want to make myself useful’: the value of nature-based adult day services in urban areas for people with dementia and their family carers

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone R. de Bruin ◽  
Yvette Buist ◽  
Jan Hassink ◽  
Lenneke Vaandrager
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Adult Day Services ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Day Services

AbstractNature-based adult day services (ADSs) in urban areas are relatively new services in the Netherlands. Since knowledge about these services is still scarce, this study aimed to elucidate their value for people with dementia and their family carers in terms of health and wellbeing. We interviewed 39 people with dementia attending nature-based ADSs in urban areas and their family carers, and 17 providers of these services. Respondents indicated that nature-based ADSs in urban areas positively affected the health and wellbeing of people with dementia. According to them, these services support contact with nature and animals, activity engagement, physical activity, structure, social interactions, healthy eating, a sense of meaning in life and a focus on normal daily life. Respondents further indicated that these services stimulate respite, reassurance and maintenance of family carers’ own activities and social contacts. We conclude that nature-based ADSs in urban areas have a wide range of benefits that might affect the health and wellbeing of people with dementia and their family carers. Worldwide, demand is growing for innovative practices in dementia care. It is therefore worthwhile monitoring the development of dementia care innovations, such as nature-based ADSs, and for countries to exchange lessons learned from these services.

scholarly journals Exploring Dementia Care Systems Across the African Caribbean Diaspora: A Scoping Review and Consultation Exercise

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena Lasrado ◽  
Sophie Baker ◽  
Maria Zubair ◽  
Polly Kaiser ◽  
Veena Janith Lasrado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Caribbean Diaspora ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
African Caribbean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background and Objectives Understanding the influences of marginalized cultural and social identities as experienced by the African Caribbean diaspora within the context of dementia care is essential to minimize the gaps in current practice and policy in the health care setting. This study explores the impact of marginalized identities upon the meaning-making process, access to services and experience of care provisions through a scoping review and consultancy exercises with key stakeholders. Research Design Fourteen databases were searched using key terms. Primary studies in English, any year, study design, and country of origin were eligible. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened for inclusion and data were extracted in stages. Thematic analysis was performed and the findings were discussed in a series of consultation meetings with people with dementia, carers, and health care professionals in Manchester (United Kingdom) and Jamaica. Results The scoping review retrieved n = 1,989 research articles. Nineteen were included, most were qualitative (n = 14), 3 quantitative, and 2 mixed-method. The findings revealed limited insight into cultural and multiple individual identities in explaining conceptualization and service access. Consultation meetings confirmed these findings and highlighted differences in health care services and systems in the United Kingdom and Jamaica. Discussion and Implications This study suggests there is a complex interaction of sociocultural processes that marginalize African Caribbean persons in and across various national settings within the context of dementia care. The study highlights the importance of acknowledging and addressing how prevalent racialized- and class-based divides and related marginalized social locations are reflected in inequities in access to and use of dementia services.

The impact of life story work on person-centred care for people with dementia living in long-stay care settings in Ireland

Dementia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 2731-2746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeline Cooney ◽  
Eamon O’Shea
Keyword(s):  
Registered Nurses ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Life Story ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Constant Comparative ◽  
Story Work ◽  
Person With Dementia ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews

The potential of life story work to add quality to dementia care is widely acknowledged. Whether this potential is always realised in practice and under what circumstances is less clear. This paper explores whether knowing the person’s life story enhances healthcare professionals’ understanding of the person with dementia and whether this understanding impacts on the person’s care. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 registered nurses and 12 healthcare assistants who had used life story work with people with dementia living in long-stay care settings. Data were analysed using the constant comparative technique. Engaging in life story work enabled staff to see the person behind the dementia. Understanding (as opposed to knowing) the person with dementia’s life story changed staff’s thinking on what is important when delivering care to people with dementia, with staff giving concrete examples of changes in how they delivered care to the person with dementia and what they considered important when delivering that care. It was concluded that life story work can facilitate a shift to person centred dementia care but how it is implemented matters if this outcome is to be achieved.

scholarly journals Residents’ and caregivers’ views on spiritual care and their understanding of spiritual needs in persons with dementia: A meta-synthesis

Dementia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 911-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liv S Ødbehr ◽  
Solveig Hauge ◽  
Lars J Danbolt ◽  
Kari Kvigne
Keyword(s):  
Study Design ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Religious Rituals ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Coming To Know

Aims To synthesize research that investigated how residents and caregivers view spiritual care, come to understand the spiritual needs of people with dementia, and how caregivers provide care congruent with peoples’ needs. Methods and study design Meta-synthesis using Noblit and Hare’s meta-ethnography. A synthesis of eight qualitative, empirical, primary studies that explored spiritual care in the context of dementia care was performed. Findings Spiritual care for persons with dementia was described in the forms of (i) performing religious rituals that provides a sense of comfort and(ii) coming to know the person, which provides opportunities to understand a person's meaning and purpose, and (iii) attending to basic needs provides an opportunity to appreciate others’ vulnerability and humanness. Conclusions Spiritual care intended to help persons with dementia to express their faith and religious beliefs, and help persons with dementia experience meaning in life, connectedness to self, God/deity and other persons.

scholarly journals Dementia Ready: Comparing Approaches for Building Caregiver Readiness and Knowledge of Dementia

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 972-973
Author(s):  
Michael Lepore ◽  
Kate Keefe ◽  
Erica DeFrancesco ◽  
Julie Robison ◽  
Alis Ohlheiser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Disease Knowledge ◽  
Dementia Caregiver ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Knowledge Scale ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Despite the rising prevalence of dementia and the high cost and complexity of care for people with dementia, most dementia care is provided at home by informal caregivers who are not clinically trained. Building caregiver readiness and knowledge of dementia is key to supporting quality care and desirable health outcomes, such as preventing falls and reducing nursing home admissions. We sought to determine and compare the impact of two interventions—Resilient Living with Dementia (RLWD) and Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE)—and of their combined delivery (both RLWD and COPE) on increasing caregiver readiness and knowledge of dementia. Between January 2019 and March 2021, 77 caregivers of people with dementia in Connecticut participated in RLWD and/or COPE and completed the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (PCGS) at baseline and at four-month and ten-month follow-ups. Analyses were conducted to compare outcomes by intervention(s). From baseline to four months and to ten months, we observed statistically significant (p < .05) improvement on the ADKS among participants in RLWD, and on the PCGS among participants in COPE and among participants in RLWD. The most substantial impact on PCGS was observed among participants in both COPE and RLWD. No improvement in the ADKS was observed among participants in only COPE, but ADKS improvement was observed at four months among participants in COPE and RLWD. Findings suggest that the benefits of COPE and RLWD for building dementia caregiver readiness are complementary and mutually reinforcing.

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