Evaluating dementia training programs for home care workers: a scoping review

As the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) continues to rise worldwide, so does the demand for home care workers who provide essential personal care that enables individuals living with ADRD to age in place. However, there is limited knowledge about dementia-specific training programs for home care workers. This scoping review aims to examine existing dementia training programs available for home care workers and evaluate their outcomes.

We searched five databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, and Scopus. We used the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and Arksey and O'Malley's five-step scoping review framework. Eligibility criteria included relevant study population (paid home care workers), dementia education or training programs, and original evaluations and published in English.

Of the 903 articles identified through the five databases, 17 articles met eligibility criteria and 12 were included in the final analytic sample. The results are presented in three sections: (1) training details, (2) methods and measures, and (3) training outcomes.

This scoping review has implications for three groups of stakeholders, including researchers, governments and policymakers, and home care workers. This work underscores the importance of further implementation and evaluation of dementia training programs for home care workers.