Experiences of physical strain during person transfer situations in dementia care units

Caring for residents with dementia impose a higher challenge and workload on the nursing staff because of a higher degree of motor function and cognitive decline among the residents. Training in person transfer tasks for nursing staff has mostly been concentrated on ergonomics irrespective of the nature of the resident's functional decline. An increased knowledge about the nursing staffs' experiences of physical workload in dementia care and in how to reduce their physical strain is needed.

The aim of the study was to describe nurse's aids' experiences of physical strain during person transfer tasks at dementia care units.

Four focus group interviews with altogether 16 nurses' aids, working at special care units for people with dementia, were performed.

The results show that knowledge about the disease and personality of residents in dementia care units can help to decrease the physical strain on nurses' aids in person transfer situations. Nurse's aids need to be flexible when performing transfer tasks to accommodate variations in the resident's functional ability. Physical strain associated with person transfer tasks is not related to the weight of the resident. Misunderstandings because of cognitive decline and communication problems increase physical strain on nurses' aids. Specialized training in person transfer tasks is needed for nurse's aids working in dementia care.

These results may serve to guide physiotherapists working in dementia care units in assessing residents' functional ability, in when to use assistive devices and mobility aids and in training and supervising nurse's aids in person transfer tasks.