“I’m still in the lap of the gods… I don’t know whether I’m going to improve or not”: listening to people with dementia or cognitive impairment and their support people, talking about inpatient rehabilitation experiences

Figures & data

Table 2. Categories and codes in the analytical framework.

Categories	Included codes
Rehabilitation	Rules of rehabilitation; role of health professionals; goals of rehabilitation; understanding rehabilitation.
Hospitality	Staff kindness; quality of staff; food options, food quality; noise; parking; staff responsiveness.
Dementia-specific matters	Role of care partners; understanding the person; insight; staff dementia knowledge.
Autonomy and decision-making	Deferring to health professionals; choice; dignity; discharge planning; advocating for self.
Connection and relationships	Interaction with roommates; interaction with staff; connection with family and friends; left to own devices.
Communication	Feedback on progress; engagement with family; confusing; disjointed; hurried/rushed.
Feelings and emotions	Desire to return home; contentment; best place to be; bored; upset; gratitude; trapped.
Activity	Participating in rehabilitation; sedentary leisure activities; sitting; dining room.

Table 1. Participant characteristics.

Patients with dementia or cognitive impairment						Support people
Identifier	Age (years)	Gender	MoCA (/30)	Reason for admission	Likely discharge destination	Identifier	Age (years)	Gender	Relationship
P1	83	Male	22	Fall/fractured lower limb	RACF^a	S1	51	Female	Daughter
P2	84	Male	17	Pain and weakness lower limb	Home with spouse	S2	82	Female	Spouse
P3	89	Female	19	Fall/fractured lower limb	RACF^a	S3	62	Female	Daughter
P4	78	Male	25	Fall/fractured lower limb	Home with spouse	S4	67	Female	Spouse
P5	84	Female	12	Medical events, deconditioning	Home alone
P6	75	Female	24	Stroke	RACF^a	P6a	51	Female	Daughter
						P6b	49	Female	Daughter
P7	82	Female	24	Fall/fractured lower limb	Home with spouse	S7	81	Male	Spouse
P8	92	Female	24	Back pain/functional decline	Home with daughter	S8	69	Female	Daughter
P9	86	Male	25	Falls, cognitive decline	Home alone
P10	81	Female	16	Stroke	Home with spouse	S10	65	Male	Partner

MoCA: Montreal Cognitive Assessment; RACF: residential aged care facility.

^aChange from pre-admission living arrangements and/or the support required at home.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials. Due to the nature of research, more detailed data are not available for ethical reasons.