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Evaluating a dementia learning community: exploratory study and research implications
Rod Sheaff1, Ian Sherriff2, Catherine Hagan Hennessy3
1School of Government, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK. r.sheaff@plymouth.ac.uk.
BMC Health Services Research
|February 7, 2018
Summary
This study evaluated a Dementia Learning Community (DLC) to reduce hospital admissions for dementia patients in care homes. While staff training and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles showed mixed results on well-being, impacts on hospital admissions were inconclusive.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Healthcare Management
- Dementia Care
Background:
- Rising hospital admissions, particularly for older adults with dementia, strain healthcare systems.
- Unplanned hospitalizations are linked to dementia prevalence and care home challenges.
- The Dementia Learning Community (DLC) model aims to mitigate these issues by improving dementia care in care homes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To preliminarily evaluate the logic model of a Dementia Learning Community (DLC).
- To assess the DLC's effectiveness in reducing unplanned hospital admissions from care homes for people with dementia.
- To examine impacts on residents' quality of life and external service demands.
Main Methods:
- A controlled mixed-methods realistic evaluation was conducted in England (2013-2015).
- 13 intervention care homes (DLC) were compared with 10 control homes.
- The study assessed links in the DLC logic model, quality of life indicators, ambulance call-outs, and hospital admissions.
Main Results:
- Dementia champion training and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were implemented as planned.
- Residents' well-being scores improved in half of intervention homes, but deteriorated in others.
- No significant improvements were observed in other care quality indicators, ambulance call-outs, or emergency hospital admission rates.
Conclusions:
- PDSA cycles appear to be a key intervention component, but their variable impact on well-being needs further investigation.
- A larger, longer study is required to definitively assess impacts on unplanned hospital admissions.
- Revising the DLC logic model to include care planning and staff familiarity with resident needs is recommended to enhance quality of life.
Keywords:
DementiaDementia Learning CommunityEnglandLogic modelPlan-Do-Study-ActResidential careUnplanned admissionsMore Related Videos
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