TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges for professional care of advanced dementia
AU - Chang, Esther
AU - Daly, John
AU - Johnson, Amanda
AU - Harrison, Kathleen
AU - Easterbrook, Sally
AU - Bidewell, John
AU - Stewart, Heather
AU - Noel, Michael
AU - Hancock, Karen
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Qualitative methodology based on action research identified challenges when caring for persons with advanced dementia, as perceived by key professional providers. Data collection was via five focus groups (total n = 24) and 20 follow-up individual interviews. Participants included palliative care, aged care and dementia specialist nurses, medical specialists from an area health service, residential aged care staff and general medical practitioners. Responses emphasized the need for improved knowledge and skills, and clearer policy. Concerns included accurate assessment, especially of pain, owing to the inability of people with advanced dementia to communicate their symptoms. Assessment, managing physical and behavioural symptoms, and communicating with family presented as further challenges. Conclusions are that the need for a palliative approach to care in advanced dementia should be recognized. Aged care staff can deliver palliative care to people with advanced dementia only if the staff receive relevant education and training beyond their generalist competencies.
AB - Qualitative methodology based on action research identified challenges when caring for persons with advanced dementia, as perceived by key professional providers. Data collection was via five focus groups (total n = 24) and 20 follow-up individual interviews. Participants included palliative care, aged care and dementia specialist nurses, medical specialists from an area health service, residential aged care staff and general medical practitioners. Responses emphasized the need for improved knowledge and skills, and clearer policy. Concerns included accurate assessment, especially of pain, owing to the inability of people with advanced dementia to communicate their symptoms. Assessment, managing physical and behavioural symptoms, and communicating with family presented as further challenges. Conclusions are that the need for a palliative approach to care in advanced dementia should be recognized. Aged care staff can deliver palliative care to people with advanced dementia only if the staff receive relevant education and training beyond their generalist competencies.
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/551568
U2 - 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2008.01723.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2008.01723.x
M3 - Article
SN - 1322-7114
VL - 15
SP - 41
EP - 47
JO - International Journal of Nursing Practice
JF - International Journal of Nursing Practice
IS - 1
ER -