A qualitative study of professional caregivers' perceptions of processes contributing to mealtime agitation in persons with dementia in nursing home wards and strategies to attain calmness

Meal-Monitoring Systems Using Weight and Temperature Sensors for Elder Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities

This paper presents a few meal-monitoring systems for elder residents (especially patients) in LTCFs by using electronic weight and temperature sensors. These monitoring systems enable to convey the information of the amount of meal taken by the patients in real-time via wireless communication networks onto the mobile phones of their nurses in charge or families. Thereby, the nurses can easily spot the most patients who need immediate assistance, while the families can have relief in seeing the crucial information for the well-being of their parents at least three times a day. Meanwhile, the patients tend to suffer burns of their tongues because they can hardly recognize the temperature of hot meals served. This situation can be avoided by utilizing the meal temperature-monitoring system, which displays an alarm to the patients when the meal temperature is above the reference. These meal-monitoring systems can be easily implemented by utilizing low-cost sensor chips and Arduino NANO boards so that elder-care hospitals and nursing homes can afford to exploit them with no additional cost. Hence, we believe that the proposed monitoring systems would be a potential solution to provide a great help and relief for the professional nurses working in elder-care hospitals and nursing homes.

Optimizing mealtime care for people with dementia from the perspective of formal caregivers: A systematic review of qualitative research

BACKGROUND

As dementia progresses, people with dementia experience many problems during mealtimes that seriously affect their physical, psychological, and social health and quality of life. Formal caregivers play an important role in optimizing mealtime care.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review and synthesise relevant qualitative studies exploring the experience and perceptions of formal caregivers regarding optimizing mealtime care for people with dementia.

DESIGN

A systematic review of qualitative research.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, CNKI, WanFang and Vip databases were systematically searched.

REVIEW METHODS

Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts, extracted the data and performed critical appraisals of each included study. The data synthesis was conducted using thematic analysis.

FINDINGS

A total of 10 studies were included. The formal caregivers included nursing assistants, nurses, speech and language therapists, nursing students, dietitians, a social worker, a professional educator, physiotherapists, health care aides, kitchen staff, diversional therapy assistants and other unidentified care staff. The findings were synthesised into the following 3 analytical themes: (1) tailored rather than standardized; (2) emotional nurturance; and (3) beyond the individual level.

CONCLUSIONS

Mealtimes involve complex physiological and psychological processes. Formal caregivers should develop tailored care practices based on individual patients' preferences and needs. Emotional connection plays a key role and has a positive impact on the mealtime experience. Further research is needed to explore the specific effects of emotional connections on optimizing mealtime care.

Mealtime caregiving approaches and behavioral symptoms in persons living with dementia: a longitudinal, observational study

Background

Behavioral symptoms during mealtime can prohibit persons living with dementia from obtaining sufficient nutrition. However, little research has examined the relationship between behavioral symptoms and caregiving approaches. This study examines this relationship and further explores which specific caregiver behaviors were related to behavioral symptoms among persons living with dementia.

Methods

A secondary data analysis was performed using 86 mealtime videos from a longitudinal, observational study. The videos were repeatedly taken at months 0, 3, and 6 with 30 persons living with dementia in one of four long-term care facilities. Video coding was performed using coding schemes modified from the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory for behavioral symptoms and the Person-/Task-Centered Behavior Inventory for caregiving approaches. Coding schemes for behavioral symptoms consisted of four categories: total duration, aggressive behavior, physically nonaggressive behavior, and verbally agitated behavior. Caregiving approaches consisted of ten-verbal/seven-nonverbal person-centered behavior codes, four-verbal/four-nonverbal task-centered behavior codes, and no-verbal/no-nonverbal interaction codes. A mixed-effect model was conducted using variables such as demographics, medical information, cognitive status, depression, function, and caregiving approaches as fixed effects, participant as a random effect, and four categories of behavioral symptoms as dependent variables.

Results

The total duration of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory was associated with no verbal response (β = 9.09) and task-centered verbal behavior (β = 8.43), specifically verbal controlling (β = 7.87). Physically nonaggressive behavior was associated with no verbal response (β = 9.36). Verbally agitated behavior was associated with task-centered nonverbal behavior (β = 51.29), and specifically inappropriate touch (β = 59.05).

Conclusions

Mealtime is indispensable to dementia care for ensuring adequate nutrition and promoting personhood. Our findings revealed caregivers’ task-centered behaviors and no interaction were related to behavioral symptoms of persons living with dementia. When caregivers encounter behavioral symptoms during mealtime, it is recommended to avoid no response and task-centered behaviors, especially verbal controlling and inappropriate touch, and to promote person-centered behaviors.

Understanding Interactions Between Caregivers and Care Recipients in Person-Centered Dementia Care: A Rapid Review

Background

Good interactions are essential in caring for people with dementia. There is a lack of knowledge about interaction approaches used by caregivers in person-centered dementia care. This study aimed to understand interactions in person-centered dementia care.

Methods

A search for relevant publications was undertaken in 2020 on two electronic databases, MEDLINE with full text and CINAHL Plus with full text. This was supplemented by manual searching of the reference lists of relevant articles. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to determine the relevance of the articles. Data extraction included publication year, country, study setting, aim, design, definition of person-centered dementia care, elements of person-centered dementia care and interaction approaches used by caregivers. A Donabedian quality framework was used to group the elements of person-centered dementia care into three categories: structure, process and outcome.

Results

A total of 25 articles were included in the review, all from developed countries. A conceptual framework was developed for the delivery of person-centered dementia care. It includes the organizational structure, ie, management and resources, a competent workforce and physical environment; the dementia care process, ie, respectful interaction underpinned by good knowledge about the care recipients in a calm, peaceful environment; and care outcome, ie, the social, psychological, and physical well-being of the care recipients. Interaction approaches used by caregivers in providing person-centered dementia care were classified according to the six purposes of interaction: to know and understand the care recipient, to keep the person happy and satisfied, to make the person feel safe and secure, to calm the person, to support self-identity, and to guide the person in conducting daily activities.

Conclusion

The delivery of person-centered dementia care needs to consider organizational structure, the dementia care process, and care outcome which together foster a positive environment for meaningful interactions between caregivers and care recipients. The identified interaction approaches could be used by dementia care trainers to develop training materials.

A group intervention to improve quality of life for people with advanced dementia living in care homes: the Namaste feasibility cluster RCT

BACKGROUND

People with advanced dementia who live and die in nursing homes experience variable quality of life, care and dying. There is a need to identify appropriate, cost-effective interventions that facilitate high-quality end-of-life care provision.

OBJECTIVES

To establish the feasibility and acceptability to staff and family of conducting a cluster randomised controlled trial of the Namaste Care intervention for people with advanced dementia in nursing homes.

DESIGN

The study had three phases: (1) realist review and (2) intervention refinement to inform the design of (3) a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial with a process evaluation and economic analysis. Clusters (nursing homes) were randomised in a 3 : 1 ratio to intervention or control (usual care). The nature of the intervention meant that blinding was not possible.

SETTING

Nursing homes in England providing care for people with dementia.

PARTICIPANTS

Residents with advanced dementia (assessed as having a Functional Assessment Staging Test score of 6 or 7), their informal carers and nursing home staff.

INTERVENTION

Namaste Care is a complex group intervention that provides structured personalised care in a dedicated space, focusing on enhancements to the physical environment, comfort management and sensory engagement.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The two contender primary outcome measures were Comfort Assessment in Dying - End of Life Care in Dementia for quality of dying (dementia) and Quality of Life in Late Stage Dementia for quality of life. The secondary outcomes were as follows: person with dementia, sleep/activity (actigraphy), neuropsychiatric symptoms, agitation and pain; informal carers, satisfaction with care at the end of life; staff members, person-centred care assessment, satisfaction with care at the end of life and readiness for change; and other data - health economic outcomes, medication/service use and intervention activity.

RESULTS

Phase 1 (realist review; 86 papers) identified that a key intervention component was the activities enabling the development of moments of connection. In phase 2, refinement of the intervention enabled the production of a user-friendly 16-page A4 booklet. In phase 3, eight nursing homes were recruited. Two homes withdrew before the intervention commenced; four intervention and two control homes completed the study. Residents with advanced dementia (n = 32) were recruited in intervention (n = 18) and control (n = 14) homes. Informal carers (total, n = 12: intervention, n = 5; control, n = 7) and 97 staff from eight sites (intervention, n = 75; control, n = 22) were recruited over a 6-month period. Recruitment is feasible. Completion rates of the primary outcome questionnaires were high at baseline (100%) and at 4 weeks (96.8%). The Quality of Life in Late Stage Dementia was more responsive to change over 24 weeks. Even where economic data were missing, these could be collected in a full trial. The intervention was acceptable; the dose varied depending on the staffing and physical environment of each care home. Staff and informal carers reported changes for the person with dementia in two ways: increased social engagement and greater calm. No adverse events related to the intervention were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

A subsequent definitive trial is feasible if there are amendments to the recruitment process, outcome measure choice and intervention specification.

FUTURE WORK

In a full trial, consideration is needed of the appropriate outcome measure that is sensitive to different participant responses, and of clear implementation principles for this person-centred intervention in a nursing home context.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN14948133.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 24, No. 6. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Quality nursing care in dementia specific care units: A scoping review

Background

The concept of quality nursing care in a dementia specific unit is perceived as being subject to the interpretation of individuals, nurses and healthcare organisations. As the number of dementia diagnoses increases, understanding what constitutes quality nursing care within dementia specific care units is vital to inform policy makers and healthcare organisations globally. Efforts to identify quality nursing care and improve dementia care within dementia specific care units, may significantly reduce the financial and emotional burden of care-giving and improve the quality of life for individuals living with dementia. This scoping review aimed to examine current literature to gain an understanding of what constitutes quality nursing care in a dementia specific care unit.

Design and methods

Five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, Social Sciences Citation Index and Ovid) were used to search for articles published in English between 2011 and 2016 focusing on a definition of quality nursing care within dementia specific care units. Findings: Twenty journal articles were identified. From these articles, two content themes were identified: Challenges in the provision of quality nursing care in dementia specific care units, and Standardised approach to quality nursing care in a dementia specific care unit. The articles contained the following research designs, controlled pre-test and post-test design ( n = 1), focus group interviews ( n = 1), cross sectional survey ( n = 6), semi structured interviews ( n = 3), narrative review ( n = 1), survey ( n = 2), literature review ( n = 3), systematic review ( n = 1), and prospective longitudinal cohort study ( n = 2).

Conclusions

The concept of quality nursing care in a dementia specific unit remains subject to the interpretation of individuals, nurses and healthcare organisations, with current literature unable to provide a clear definition. Further research into what constitutes quality nursing care in dementia specific care units is recommended.

Equipping Nurses and Care Staff to Manage Mealtime Difficulties in People With Dementia: A Systematic Scoping Review of Training Needs and Interventions

Purpose Mealtime difficulties are prevalent in dementia, posing major challenges to people with dementia (PWD), carers, and clinical services. Speech-language pathologists have a recognized role in providing training to carers of PWD who have mealtime difficulties. The aims of this study are (a) to identify the training needs of nurses and care staff with regard to managing mealtime difficulties in PWD, (b) to describe existing training interventions on this topic, and (c) to investigate the extent to which these interventions are relevant to the needs of nurses and care staff. Method A systematic search was carried out to identify studies relevant to the aims of the review. Data were extracted and then synthesized using thematic analysis and a synthesis matrix. Study quality was appraised using a validated appraisal tool. Results Various themes were identified in relation to the training needs of nurses and other care staff who manage mealtime difficulties in PWD. These were as follows: person-centered care; dealing with uncertainty; strategies, skills, and knowledge; and creating the right environment. Existing training interventions were described and compared against the training needs. The review found some correspondence between interventions and staff needs, but also some gaps. Conclusions Training interventions on this topic should be more systematically developed and better reported to facilitate effective implementation. Evidence to date indicates that training should do more to help staff deal with uncertainty. Further research assessing the benefits of speech-language pathologists' involvement in the development of training interventions is recommended because of this profession's specialist skills and knowledge with regard to both dysphagia and communication.

Progressive Support for Activities of Daily Living for Persons Living With Dementia

Background and Objectives

Dementia is accompanied by increasing need for support in activities of daily living (ADLs). This brief report/literature review summarizes the practices to care for early stage, middle stage, and late stage ADL needs (dressing, toileting, and eating/nutrition), and examines commonalities across ADL needs and the extent to which practices are reflected in guidelines and/or evidence.

Research Design and Methods

A review of the grey and peer-reviewed literature, using some but not all procedures of a systematic review. Key terms were identified for ADLs overall and for each of the 3 ADLs, and a search was conducted using these words in combination with (a) dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and similar terms, and (b) practices, interventions, guidelines, recommendations, and similar terms. Searches were conducted using databases of peer-reviewed literature as well as the Grey Literature Reports and Google search engine. Sources were included if they provided evidence or recommendations on interventions to address ADL functioning for dressing, toileting, and feeding for persons living with dementia.

Results

As cognitive and functional impairment increases, the number of care practices and themes that embody care practices increases. The majority of practices are evidence-based, and most evidence is incorporated into guidelines.

Discussion and Implications

Virtually all practices reflect person-centered care principles. Five recommendations summarize the evidence and recommendations related to providing support to persons living with dementia in relation to dressing, toileting, and eating/nutrition.

Improving living and dying for people with advanced dementia living in care homes: a realist review of Namaste Care and other multisensory interventions

BACKGROUND

Seventy percent of people with advanced dementia live and die in care homes. Multisensory approaches, such as Namaste Care, have been developed to improve the quality of life and dying for people with advanced dementia but little is known about effectiveness or optimum delivery. The aim of this review was to develop an explanatory account of how the Namaste Care intervention might work, on what outcomes, and in what circumstances.

METHODS

This is a realist review involving scoping of the literature and stakeholder interviews to develop theoretical explanations of how interventions might work, systematic searches of the evidence to test and develop the theories, and their validation with a purposive sample of stakeholders. Twenty stakeholders - user/patient representatives, dementia care providers, care home staff, researchers -took part in interviews and/or workshops.

RESULTS

We included 85 papers. Eight focused on Namaste Care and the remainder on other types of sensory interventions such as music therapy or massage. We identified three context-mechanism-outcome configurations which together provide an explanatory account of what needs to be in place for Namaste Care to work for people living with advanced dementia. This includes: providing structured access to social and physical stimulation, equipping care home staff to cope effectively with complex behaviours and variable responses, and providing a framework for person-centred care. A key overarching theme concerned the importance of activities that enabled the development of moments of connection for people with advanced dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

This realist review provides a coherent account of how Namaste Care, and other multisensory interventions might work. It provides practitioners and researchers with a framework to judge the feasibility and likely success of Namaste Care in long term settings. Key for staff and residents is that the intervention triggers feelings of familiarity, reassurance, engagement and connection.

STUDY REGISTRATION

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016047512.