Person-Centered Risk Assessment Framework: Assessing and Managing Risk in Older Adults Living With Dementia

Abstract

Aim: This study pilot-tested the person-centered risk assessment framework (PCRAF), a framework for managing risk among persons living with dementia (PLWD) in primary care. Methods: Healthcare providers (N = 7) piloting the PCRAF completed a survey, rating their satisfaction with the tool, and an interview to gather their perceptions of the PCRAF. PLWD and care partners (N = 12) completed a survey, rating their satisfaction with safety planning. Results: Care providers were very satisfied with the tool; however, patient or care partner inability to perceive or understand safety risks was a challenge. Use of the PCRAF was perceived as an opportunity to empower self-management, gather PLWD and care partner perspectives, reduce burden for care partners and increase understanding of potential risks. Patients and care partners were very satisfied with the way in which they were included in the risk discussion. Conclusion: The PCRAF is a promising new tool to reduce risks associated with dementia.

Keywords: :

• caregiving
• dementia
• memory clinics
• primary care
• risk assessment

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of memory clinic team members, Adult Day Program staff, persons with dementia and care partners who participated in this study.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was supported by a SPARK program grant from the Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CC-ABHI). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.