Meeting the Needs in Continuing Care of Facility-Based Residents Diagnosed With Dementia: Comparison of Ratings by Families, Direct Care Staff, and Other Staff

Abstract

Effective facility-based continuing care of persons diagnosed with dementia requires trust and cooperation between the professional caregivers and the families of the residents. Miscommunications may affect many aspects of staff-family relationships. The knowledge and expectations of these groups, however, are typically quite different. The purpose of this study was to compare families, direct caregivers, and other staff and volunteers on their perception of the degree to which residents’ needs were being met. Although these groups agreed that the majority of needs were being met adequately, the groups did differ. Specifically, compared to families and other staff and volunteers, the direct caregivers were more critical of bedside care, their own professional training, and the work of others. Families, in contrast, were more critical of their loved ones’ limited opportunities for freedom of choice. The findings have value for the care of persons with dementia residing in care facilities.