Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults
Published on: December 9, 2014
Educating nursing assistants to communicate more effectively with nursing home residents with dementia
P McCallion1, R W Toseland, D Lacey
1School of Social Welfare, Ringel Institute of Gerontology, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA. mcclion@csc.albany.edu
Abstract:
This article describes the development and evaluation of a Nursing Assistant Communication Skills Program (NACSP). NACSP was designed to help nursing assistants (NAs) interact more effectively with nursing home residents with moderate and severe dementia. In two skilled-care nursing homes, NAs in four units were randomly assigned by unit to NACSP or to a wait-list control condition (UC) and were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. NACSP resulted in improvement in the well-being of nursing home residents being cared for by NAs who had received the NACSP training. It was also found that NACSP resulted in greater knowledge of caregiving responses and reduced turnover rates among NAs, but the program had no impact on their knowledge of dementia. To disseminate the NACSP program, a leader manual, an accompanying training videotape, and a workbook for participants were developed.
Related Concept Videos
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process I: Assessment and Diagnosis
The nursing process considers the patient's emotional and physical well-being. The process can be repeated or stopped at any point if judged essential. Assessment is the first step in the nursing process.
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data from the...
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.

