Decision-making support for elderly individuals with dementia in a geriatric health service facility: A questionnaire survey on concrete care methods to draw wills of individuals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the care methods used by healthcare staff in service facilities to draw up wills for elderly individuals with dementia in daily life and the final stage in decision-making support. A questionnaire survey was conducted among healthcare staff in a geriatric health service facility in August 2020. There were 45 subjects (16 males [35.6%]; 29 females [64.4%]). The average age was 42.2 (±12.3) years old, and the mean number of years of experience in a geriatric health service facility was 17.4 (±10.7) years. Deathbed care was provided to ≥90% of the subjects. A factor analysis of items related to decision making in elderly individuals with dementia revealed the first factor to be "support and communication to draw wills", the second factor to be "support and communication for expression to realize decision making", and the third factor to be "understanding, communication, and family support for decision-making realization." The totals of each of these three factors and "having confidence in care focusing on the viewpoint of elderly individuals with dementia" were significantly different. The correction between the Personhood of Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire Japanese version and the three subscales of decision making in elderly individuals with dementia had a significant coefficient of correlation. More polite communication methods are necessary for the formation, expression, and realization of the intentions of elderly individuals with dementia to support their decision making.