Promoting value in dementia care: Staff, resident and family experience of the capabilities model of dementia care

Abstract

Objectives: This Australian study examined individual experiences of the implementation of the Capabilities Model of Dementia Care (CMDC) and subsequent outcomes for the care of residents with dementia living in long-term care. Furthermore, this study aimed to explore those factors that facilitated and inhibited the implementation of the new model of care.

Methods: The CMDC was developed and then tested in a non-randomised clinical trial. Staff, residents and family experiences of their involvement and perceptions of the model were captured at the end of 12 months. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with the 25 participants (12 nursing staff, 6 residents with dementia, 7 family members). Questions varied depending on the participant group but were designed to assess experiences of and changes to care during the intervention. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify the experiences of the implementation of the CMDC.

Results: Five themes included: general reflections on nursing care, implementation of the CMDC intervention, positive outcomes of the CMDC intervention, challenges in the implementation of the CMDC, difficulty sustaining care and tensions between participants’ perspectives of care.

Conclusion: Positive change resulted from implementation of the CMDC, however, staff mentorship was identified as a key to sustaining changes in practice.

Keywords:

• care management
• dementia
• model of care
• long-term care

Acknowledgements

The research team gratefully acknowledges the help and support of the residents, family and staff at the four RSL Care facilities. Also acknowledged is Ms Deborah Oxlade for her help with liasion between the facilities and the team, Ms Susan Griffiths for her expert project management, and Ms Jo Kinnane and Ms Caroline Walters for their expertise as clinical mentors. The team also acknowledge the financial support received for the larger project from J.O. and J.R. Wicking Trust.