Skip to main content

Dementia-specific training for nursing home staff

A systematic literature review

Demenzspezifische Weiterbildungen für Personal in Pflegeheimen

Ein systematischer Literaturüberblick

Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie volume 51, pages 523–529 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

For people with dementia high-quality care is vital, since at present dementia cannot be cured. In nursing homes this care is provided by the staff, who therefore require dementia-specific training enabling them to improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

Objective

This article compares existing dementia-specific training for nursing home staff with recommendations, based on the current state of research, by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and discusses the outcome of this training.

Material and methods

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify studies addressing dementia-specific training. The electronic databases Embase, Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsychINFO, PSYNDEX, and ScienceDirect were searched.

Results

The training topics most commonly considered were person-centered care, communicating with people affected by dementia, and information about dementia. The roles of different social and healthcare professionals, palliative care of people with dementia, and understanding family dynamics are least featured in the training. There are training concepts which focus not only on the transfer of knowledge but also on practical exercises.

Conclusion

In general, the recommended topics were addressed in dementia-specific training concepts, but there is potential for optimization. Further research is needed to identify success criteria in dementia-specific training and identify the successful combination of theoretical knowledge and practical exercise.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Derzeit gibt es keine erfolgreiche Medikation, um Demenz zu heilen, daher ist eine qualitativ hochwertige Versorgung essenziell. Da Fachkräfte in Pflegeheimen die Versorgung bereitstellen, benötigen sie demenzspezifische Weiterbildungen, um die Lebensqualität von Demenzerkrankten verbessern zu können.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel des Artikels ist es, existierende demenzspezifische Weiterbildungen für Pflegefachkräfte in Pflegeheimen mit den Empfehlungen der Alzheimer’s Association und dem National Institute for Health and Care Excellence zu vergleichen, basierend auf dem aktuellen Stand der Wissenschaft, und die Effekte der Trainings zu diskutieren.

Material und Methoden

Es wurde eine systematische Literaturrecherche durchgeführt, um Studien, die demenzspezifische Weiterbildungen adressieren, zu finden. Die Datenbanken Embase, Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsychINFO, PSYNDEX und ScienceDirect wurden durchsucht.

Ergebnisse

Personenzentrierte Pflege, Kommunikation mit Demenzerkrankten und Informationen zu Demenz werden am häufigsten als Trainingsinhalte berücksichtigt. Die Rollen der unterschiedlichen sozialen und medizinischen Berufsgruppen, palliative Versorgung von Demenzerkrankten und das Verständnis zur Familiendynamik werden am wenigsten als Trainingsinhalte berücksichtigt. Es gibt Trainings, die nicht nur den Transfer von Wissen, sondern auch praktische Übungen fokussieren.

Diskussion

Die empfohlenen Inhalte finden sich im Allgemeinen in den demenzspezifischen Weiterbildungen wieder, aber es besteht Optimierungspotenzial. Weitere Forschung ist notwendig, um Erfolgskriterien demenzspezifischer Weiterbildungen zu identifizieren und die erfolgreiche Kombination von theoretischem Wissen und praktischen Übungen zu untersuchen.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

References

  1. Alzheimer’s Association (2009) Dementia care practice recommendations for assisted living residences and nursing homes. https://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_DCPRphases1n2.pdf. Accessed 7 June 2016

    Google Scholar 

  2. Alzheimer’s Association (2016a) What is dementia? http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp. Accessed 1 Aug 2016

    Google Scholar 

  3. Alzheimer’s Association (2016b) Residential care. http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-residential-facilities.asp. Accessed 13 June 2016

    Google Scholar 

  4. Beer C, Horner B, Flicker L et al (2011) A cluster-randomised trial of staff education to improve the quality of life of people with dementia living in residential care: the DIRECT study. PLOS ONE 6:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Board M, Heaslip V, Fuggle K et al (2012) How education can improve care for residents with dementia. Nurs Older People 24:29–31

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Chang C‑C, Wyke ML, Madigan EA (2006) Training program for nursing assistants who feed dementia patients in Taiwanese nursing homes. Geriatr Nurs (Minneap) 27:229–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cooke M, Moyle W, Venturato L et al (2014) Evaluation of an education intervention to implement a capability model of dementia care. Dementia 13:613–625

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Deudon A, Maubourguet N, Gervais X et al (2009) Non-pharmacological management of behavioural symptoms in nursing homes. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 24:1386–1395

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Farlow MR, Borson S, Connor SR et al (2016) Quality improvement in skilled nursing facilities for residents with alzheimer’s disease. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Dement 31:156–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Fossey J, Masson S, Stafford J et al (2014) The disconnect between evidence and practice: a systematic review of person-centred interventions and training manuals for care home staff working with people with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 29:797–807

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gozalo P, Prakash S, Qato DM et al (2014) Effect of the bathing without a battle training intervention on bathing-associated physical and verbal outcomes in nursing home residents with dementia: a randomized crossover diffusion study. J Am Geriatr Soc 62:797–804

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Haberstroh J, Neumeyer K, Schmitz B et al (2009) Evaluation eines Kommunikationstrainings für Altenpfleger in der stationären Betreuung demenzkranker Menschen (Tandem im Pflegeheim). Z Gerontol Geriatr 42:108–116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hobday JV, Savik K, Smith S et al (2010) Feasibility of internet training for care staff of residents with dementia: the CARES program. J Gerontol Nurs 36:13–21

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Huizing AR, Hamers JPH, Gulpers MJM et al (2006) Short-term effects of an educational intervention on physical restraint use: a cluster randomized trial. BMC Geriatr 6:17. doi:10.1186/1471-2318-6-17

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Kuske B, Luck T, Hanns S et al (2009) Training in dementia care: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a training program for nursing home staff in Germany. Int Psychogeriatr 21:295–308

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Leone E, Deudon A, Bauchet M et al (2013) Management of apathy in nursing homes using a teaching program for care staff: the STIM-EHPAD study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 28:383–392

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J et al (2009) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLOS Med 151:264–269

    Google Scholar 

  18. Monette J, Champoux N, Monette M et al (2008) Effect of an interdisciplinary educational program on antipsychotic prescribing among nursing home residents with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 23:574–579

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2016) Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care. Clinical guideline. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg42/resources/dementia-supporting-people-with-dementia-and-their-carers-in-health-and-social-care-975443665093. Accessed 10 June 2016

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pellfolk TJ-E, Gustafson Y, Bucht G et al (2010) Effects of a restraint minimization program on staff knowledge, attitudes, and practice: a cluster randomized trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 58:62–69

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Pfeifer-Schaup U (2009) Pre-Therapie in der Altenpflege. Neue Zugänge zu Menschen mit schwerer Demenz. Z Gerontol Geriatr 42:336–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Robert Koch-Institut (2015) Gesundheit in Deutschland. Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. Gemeinsam getragen von RKI und Destatis. https://www.destatis.de/DE/Publikationen/Thematisch/Gesundheit/Gesundheitszustand/GesundheitInDeutschlandPublikation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile. Accessed 9 May 2016

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schulz H, Auer S, Span E et al (2012) Ausbildungsmodell für M.A.S.-Trainer. Eine Praxisevaluierung. Z Gerontol Geriatr 45:637–641

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Söderlund M, Norberg A, Hansebo G (2012) Implementation of the validation method: Nurses’ descriptions of caring relationships with residents with dementia disease. Dementia 11:569–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Suominen MH, Kivisto SM, Pitkala KH (2007) The Effects of nutrition education on professionals’ practice and on the nutrition of aged residents in dementia wards. Eur J Clin Nutr 61:1226–1232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Tsaroucha A, Benbow SM, Kingston P et al (2011) Dementia skills for all: a core competency framework for the workforce in the united kingdom. Dementia 12:29–44

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Vida S, Monette J, Wilchesky M et al (2012) A long-term care center interdisciplinary education program for antipsychotic use in dementia: program update five years later. Int Psychogeriatr 24:599–605

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Weidekamp-Maicher M (2013) Nichtpharmakologische Therapieansätze: ihr Einfluss auf die Lebensqualität Demenzkranker und die Rolle der Messinstrumente. Ergebnisse eines Literaturreviews. Z Gerontol Geriatr 46:134–143

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. World Health Organization (2016) Dementia. Fact sheet. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs362/en/. Accessed 31 May 2016

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Institut für eHealth und Management im Gesundheitswesen, Hochschule Flensburg, Kanzleistraße 91–93, 24943, Flensburg, Germany

    Julia Riesch, Lucy Meyer,  Bosco Lehr &  Thomas Severin

Authors
  1. Julia Riesch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lucy Meyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bosco Lehr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas Severin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julia Riesch.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

J. Riesch, L. Meyer, B. Lehr and T. Severin declare that they have no competing interests.

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Riesch, J., Meyer, L., Lehr, B. et al. Dementia-specific training for nursing home staff. Z Gerontol Geriat 51, 523–529 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-017-1296-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-017-1296-1

Keywords

  • Dementia
  • Training
  • Nursing home
  • Nursing staff
  • Systematic review

Schlüsselwörter

  • Demenz
  • Weiterbildung
  • Pflegeheim
  • Pflegekräfte
  • Systematische Literaturrecherche