Implementation of national guidelines for dementia care in a Swedish nursing home: Presentation of an action research project
Date
2013-12-03
Authors
Boström, Anne-Marie
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Publisher
InspireNet
Abstract
Canada and Sweden face many similarities when it comes to an aging population and the opportunities and challenges for families and society. In Sweden, municipalities are responsible for providing social and health care for older persons in their homes and in special housing for older people.
In 2010, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare launched guidelines for care of persons with dementia. The guidelines are based on evidence and best available knowledge on the provision of care for persons with dementia. In our research project, the overall aim was to study the effect and outcomes following implementation of the dementia guidelines from three perspectives: older persons’ with dementia living in a nursing home; family members’; and staff’s perspective working in the same nursing home where older people reside.
The implementation project was conducted in a nursing home where 200 residents are living in 24 small-scale units and 200 staff are employed consisting of 170 nurse aides, 25 health professionals and 5 managers. Participatory action research methodology was used to implement the guidelines. Regularly meetings were held with the managers. Unit-based seminars for staff were facilitated by faculty members from Karolinska Institute every second week. These activities have been complemented with lectures and poster presentations in all units to share accomplished changes. Information meetings for family members were scheduled every six months.
The conclusions from the project so far are that managers and staff have increased awareness of the dementia guidelines and identified areas for practice changes. The next step is to sustain the model with unit-based seminars using nursing-home staff instead of faculty members as facilitators.
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Citation
Boström, A-M. (2013). Implementation of national guidelines for dementia care in a Swedish nursing home: Presentation of an action research project. [Webinar Recording].