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Complementary therapy for advanced dementia palliation in nursing homes

Bryan Mitchell (University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK)
Graham A. Jackson (Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK)
Barbara Sharp (Alzheimer Scotland, Glasgow, UK)
Debbie Tolson (Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK)

Journal of Integrated Care

ISSN: 1476-9018

Article publication date: 15 June 2020

Issue publication date: 19 September 2020

301

Abstract

Purpose

This paper reports on an action research study that aimed to collaboratively develop a complementary therapy care intervention to augment palliative care choices available to nursing home residents with advanced dementia.

Design/methodology/approach

An action research design was adopted that consisted of a series of action cycles involving collaborative exploration, problem-solving planning, development and evidence gathering. A combination of mixed methods was used when gaining data at the different stages, including face to face delivered questionnaires, observational notes, focus groups, and the objective measure of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory adapted for Nursing Homes (NPI-NH).

Findings

Care home staff and relatives considered the use of Complementary Therapy to be a helpful intervention promoting that it can reduce a sense of loneliness and provide companionship for residents experiencing distress. Analysis of NPI-NH scores showed a reduction in presenting neuropsychiatric behaviours associated with stress and distress.

Research limitations/implications

Differing levels of participant group engagement may affect this study’s findings as it was noted that care home staff provided a fuller contribution to the project in comparison to relatives.

Practical implications

Implementation guidance is needed when implementing complementary therapy within the nursing home practice to promote consistency and successful integration of an intervention that is not provided as routine care.

Originality/value

The findings of this study are encouraging and demonstrate the acceptability of complementary therapies to residents with advanced dementia, where positive impacts on otherwise difficult to address dementia symptoms related to stress and distress are highlighted.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Citation

Mitchell, B., Jackson, G.A., Sharp, B. and Tolson, D. (2020), "Complementary therapy for advanced dementia palliation in nursing homes", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 419-432. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICA-02-2020-0009

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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