81002145

open access

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The development and evaluation of a tool for communicating information regarding elderly with dementia at short-stay services

Bulletin of health sciences Kobe

25

37-49

Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University

2009

2010-06-07

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a tool for the communication and exchange of information for families of elderly with dementia and care staff at short-stay facilities. The subjects were five families of elderly with dementia and 85 care staff members working at two geriatric health service facilities and three nursing homes. A three-way analysis of variance was used to compare findings before and two months after use of the communication tool. The result showed that scores for the items "measures taken when care cannot be given," (F=6.280、p=.016) and "how the family lives," (F=8.333、p=.006) in the category of information regarding the user and family were higher after use of the tool. On the other hand, scores for the items "condition during stay," (F=6.804、p=.012) and "change in condition during stay," (F=9.098、p=.004) of things to communicate were lower after use of the tool. In addition, the tool was found to be effective for communicating specific items of information regarding families in information regarding the user and family. There was insufficient communication of things to communicate showing the need for development of a descriptive input method which takes into consideration the method of care used at the facility.

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