Summary
A highly detailed and intensive collection of research activity concentrated on various aspects of the management of challenging behaviour in care homes (“ResCare”) and in family care at home (“FamCare”).
“This research programme on dementia care found neither staff training with on-line decision support interventions in care homes, nor treatment from NHS teams in the community, reduced clinically significant challenging behaviour”.
Where next? The authors suggest that a Realist Evaluation approach might shed more light on how much-needed interventions (to support carers of community-dwelling people with dementia suffering from challenging behaviour), might work, for whom, and within which contexts.
It is also suggested that the emphasis of priority for the NHS dementia workforce should shift from early diagnosis to the earlier recognition and support of the family carers and care home staff who are challenged by BPSD.
Reference
Moniz-Cook, E. Hart, C. [and] Woods, B. [et al] (2017). Challenge Demcare: management of challenging behaviour in dementia at home and in care homes – development, evaluation and implementation of an online individualised intervention for care homes; and a cohort study of specialist community mental health care for families. Southampton (UK): National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Journals Library / Programme Grants for Applied Research. August 2017; 5(15).
