Mapping Namaste Care Training for Staff in Long-Term Care Settings: A Scoping Review

Namaste Care is a person-centered intervention for people with dementia in long-term care, particularly those in advanced stages. However, evidence on how staff are trained and supported to deliver Namaste Care remains fragmented. This scoping review aimed to map training content, delivery formats and support, and training-related outcomes. Following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, eight databases were searched from inception to May 2026, with additional website and citation searches. Data were synthesized descriptively, and training-related outcomes were mapped against the Kirkpatrick Four-Level Training Evaluation Model. Eleven studies were included. Training commonly addressed core Namaste Care principles and activities, and several programs also included knowledge of dementia and palliative care, as well as communication and relational care skills. Face-to-face workshops and in-service sessions were the most common delivery formats, with some programs also incorporating experiential learning. Follow-up support and practical resources were frequently reported, and family involvement was incorporated into several programs. Staff reactions were generally positive. Learning-related outcomes included greater understanding of the purpose and delivery of Namaste Care and reported improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and self-perceived skills. Some studies reported changes in staff practice, although intended program frequency or duration was not always achieved because of staffing and organizational constraints. Resident, staff, and family caregiver outcomes were mixed and could not be attributed to training alone. Namaste Care training is therefore better understood as part of a broader practice-support strategy rather than as a stand-alone educational activity. However, existing evaluations remain incomplete, with limited evidence linking staff learning to subsequent practice change and wider outcomes.