Working at Green Care Farms and Other Innovative Small-Scale Long-Term Dementia Care Facilities Requires Different Competencies of Care Staff.

Bram de Boer,Simone R. de Bruin,Hilde Verbeek,Yvette Buist,Ramona Backhaus

doi:10.3390/ijerph182010747

Abstract

The culture change movement within long-term care in which radical changes in the physical, social and organizational care environments are being implemented provides opportunities for the development of innovative long-term care facilities. The aim of this study was to investigate which competencies care staff working at green care farms and other innovative types of small-scale long-term dementia care facilities require, according to care staff themselves and managers, and how these competencies were different from those of care staff working in more traditional large-scale long-term dementia care facilities. A qualitative descriptive research design was used. Interviews were conducted with care staff (n = 19) and managers (n = 23) across a diverse range of long-term facilities. Thematic content analysis was used. Two competencies were mainly mentioned by participants working in green care farms: (1) being able to integrate activities for residents into daily practice, and (2) being able to undertake multiple responsibilities. Two other competencies for working in long-term dementia care in general were identified: (3) having good communication skills, and (4) being able to provide medical and direct care activities. This study found unique competencies at green care farms, showing that providing care in innovative long-term care facilities requires looking further than the physical environment and the design of a care facility; it is crucial to look at the role of care staff and the competencies they require.

Highlights

In many countries, there is a movement towards developing age-friendly cities and environments [1,2,3]
The aim of this study was to investigate which competencies care staff working at green care farms and other innovative types of small-scale long-term dementia care facilities require according to care staff themselves and managers, and how these competencies were different from those of care staff working in more traditional large-scale long-term dementia care facilities
Two competencies were mainly mentioned by participants working in green care farms: (1) being able to integrate activities for residents into daily practice, and (2) working independently

Summary

Introduction

There is a movement towards developing age-friendly cities and environments [1,2,3]. As people with dementia become more dependent on their environment as the dementia progresses, careful design of the physical space they reside in has important implications for maintaining a meaningful life. As the environment can provide support in dealing with cognitive decline, the importance of a good fit between the person with dementia and their environment is crucial. As part of the movement towards age-friendly cities, there is an increased development of alternative care environments for people with dementia. Recent insights show that it is important that changes in the physical environment of a nursing home are made in conjunction with changes in the social environment

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