Timely involvement of elderly care physicians as a core condition for preventing crisis admissions in Dutch dementia...

This study explored how elderly care physicians (ECPs) perceive their role in preventing crisis admissions among home-dwelling people with dementia, how they view their position within community-based dementia care, and which barriers hinder them in assuming this role.

A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with ECPs. Participants reflected on anonymized dementia cases involving crisis situations to identify opportunities for prevention. Interviews were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis, supported by iterative coding, researcher triangulation, and application of Strauss and Corbin's coding paradigm.

Timely ECP involvement emerged as central to preventing or delaying crisis admissions. Participants described how ECPs can recognize crisis-prone situations early and initiate multidisciplinary interventions. Timely consultation depended on collaboration with GPs, local expertise, stepped-care role distribution and regional coordination. Limited capacity, organizational constraints and communication barriers impeded early involvement.

ECPs perceive their role in preventing crisis admissions as meaningful, but their timely involvement depends on well-functioning proactive care networks. Such networks must identify emerging risks early, ensure that concerns reach the appropriate professionals, and align interventions with the individual's valuesand circumstances. Strengthening coordination, clarifying escalation pathways, improving communication structures, and expanding workforce capacity are essential to enable early mobilization of ECP expertise.