An evaluation of a family visit education program

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychiatry
• Nursing

Background:

• Dementia care in nursing homes presents challenges for residents, families, and staff.
• Effective communication and behavior management strategies are crucial for improving quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Family Visit Education Program's (FVEP) impact on dementia residents, their family visitors, and nursing staff.
• To assess changes in resident psychosocial functioning, behavior, and social interaction.
• To examine effects on visitor dementia management skills, caregiving hassles, and visit satisfaction, as well as nursing staff behavior management.

Main Methods:

• A randomized control group design with 66 dementia residents and their primary visitor.
• Two conditions: Family Visit Education Program (FVEP) or usual care (UC).
• Measurements at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months for residents, visitors, and nursing staff.

Main Results:

• FVEP significantly reduced residents' problem behaviors, depression, and irritability.
• Improved communication between visitors and residents was observed.
• FVEP did not significantly change nursing staff's management of resident behavior problems, except for a reduction in mechanical restraint use.

Conclusions:

• Family education can enhance communication and interaction with nursing home residents with dementia.
• Positive effects on residents were noted, but nursing staff's management practices remained largely unchanged.
• The FVEP demonstrates potential for improving resident well-being through family engagement.