Dr Sara Karacsony1, Dr Sharon Andrews1, Dr Melissa Abela1, Dr Maryam Rouhi1, Dr Thi Thuy (Ha) Dinh1
1University Of Tasmania, Lilyfield, Australia
Biography:
Dr Sara Karacsony is a nursing academic and researcher in the field of palliative care in aged care and an active member of the Transforming Research in Ageing (TRiA) group within the school of Nursing at the University of Tasmania. Sara’s clinical background is in palliative care and her research and teaching areas focus on workforce education and skills development in palliative care, and care and quality of life of older people.
Abstract:
Background: People living with advanced dementia (PLWAD) in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) are known to suffer serious symptom burden at end of life (EOL) that could be relieved with quality palliative care. Evidence suggests that palliative care is largely provided as terminal care (last few days of life) and there has been limited research into models of care that seek to provide palliative care in more holistic and proactive ways in RACFs. Currently, interventions that specifically target PLWAD as they approach end of life are limited, despite awareness of behavioural problems, sensory deprivation, social isolation and loneliness in this group.
Namaste Care is a structured group program offering personalised care that focuses on enhancements to comfort and sensory engagement in a calm, dedicated environment. Participating in a Namaste Care Program has shown many benefits including increased social engagement and communication, improved pain detection, appetite, sleep patterns and mood.
This presentation will report on recruitment of residents with advanced dementia into an intervention in three RACFs in Tasmania.
Methods: The project employed a four-stage implementation design (Education, Development of a Namaste Community of Care, Implementation, and Maintenance) with mixed methods data collection. In Stage 3 residents were screened and recruited. Inclusion criteria: inability to actively participate in memory programs and FAST 6 or 7.
Results: More than three times as many residents were screened than were recruited to the intervention. Reasons for exclusion were varied and included the proxy consent process and family refusal, capacity of facilities to recruit, and structural barriers.
Conclusions: Despite the benefits of participation in Namaste Care and presence of eligible residents, study numbers were low. Future recruitment strategies need to include broader collaboration with healthcare professionals (and social prescribing), greater family engagement with research processes and ensuring engagement throughout the organisation(s).