Special training can encourage caregivers of people with dementia living in nursing homes. This is because a team of international researchers has shown that the „mySupport“ program has positive effects on decision-making, among other things.
Those who care for people with dementia take on a great responsibility. For example, important decisions must be made on their behalf when dementia patients can no longer participate in care discussions. But what happens when caregivers and relatives feel uncertain during decision-making processes? Does their attitude towards caregiving even change? How can this dilemma be addressed?
The „mySupport“ intervention is a program for advance care planning. It was originally developed and implemented in Northern Ireland. To discuss future care for people with dementia, relatives caring for people with dementia who live in care homes were given an information booklet. „The booklet covers dementia progression, possible symptoms and complications, shared decision-making, palliative care options, and the end-of-life and bereavement phases.“
Support decision-making
Part of the measure was also the possibility of holding a family care conference with the help of a trained moderator. The training therefore informed relatives about the options for end-of-life care for people with advanced dementia, „to support them in making end-of-life care decisions.“
Researchers from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Italy have now demonstrated the effectiveness of the mySupport program for caregivers in a recent study. „Our results could encourage nursing home staff to inform family caregivers about dementia and end-of-life care,“ the scientists write.
Feeling informed
Nurses who had participated in the training reported „less uncertainty in decision-making,“ experienced fewer decision conflicts, and felt they retained control over care. „mySupport“ had the strongest impact on the feeling of being informed and clear about values.
Care perceived positively
Furthermore, the caregivers perceived care more positively than before – meaning they were more satisfied with the care in the nursing homes than the control group. Additionally, the authors write that the number of advance directives rejecting treatment, such as intubation, was higher after the intervention.
The study results led to further insights. If the mySupport program is adapted, it can be transferred to other countries. The results „can encourage the inclusion of communication training and workshops for nursing home staff on the topics of care provision, dementia, and palliative care as core elements in curricula,“ the scientists summarize.
For the study, two nursing homes were recruited in each of six different countries, where people with advanced dementia receive round-the-clock care. Between November 2020 and May 2022 – thus during the Covid-19 pandemic – the researchers surveyed 88 caregivers and relatives.
Tip for practice: The use of advance care planning programs can relieve caregivers and family members, which is why residential facilities should offer this new approach to advance health care planning.
Here is the link to the study:
