[Evaluation by case managers dementia : An explorative practice based study on types and content].

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Social Work

Background:

• Explores how case managers conduct evaluations within dementia care support.
• Focuses on the informal care networks of individuals with dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gain insight into the evaluation phase of dementia care support by case managers.
• To understand how case managers shape and implement evaluation processes.

Main Methods:

• Employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data.
• Involves 57 case managers working with persons with dementia across three organizational networks.

Main Results:

• Evaluation practices vary in form and content among case managers.
• While interim and final evaluations are recognized as important, methodical realization is challenging.
• Barriers to systematic evaluation stem from both client- and professional-related factors.

Conclusions:

• Case managers perform continuous, informal evaluations to gauge support effectiveness.
• Systematic evaluation for measuring care quality for persons with dementia and their caregivers is not consistently utilized.
• Findings necessitate a broader discussion on appropriate evaluation methods for case managers at client, professional, and societal levels.