Table 3 Outcome themes for healthcare professionals (HCP [31]) and family carers
Theme | Sub-theme | Reported by: | |
|---|---|---|---|
HCP | Family carers | ||
Psychosocial and spiritual care | Beyond meeting basic physical needs | ✓ | |
Person-centred approach | ✓ | ✓ | |
Spending time with residents | ✓ | ✓ | |
Treated with dignity and respect | ✓ | ✓ | |
Being seen by a religious figure e.g. priest | ✓ | ✓ | |
Resident is not alone, is engaged and has comforting physical contact | ✓ | ||
Is comfortable, warm, content and feels secure; death is quick and peaceful | ✓ | ||
Addressing physical needs | Symptom management (particularly for pain) | ✓ | ✓ |
Reducing burdensome interventions, hospitalisation and resuscitation | ✓ | ✓ | |
Basic care needs are understood and met; e.g., clean, not smelling, hearing aids in place | ✓ | ||
Has improvements in health, increased life expectancy | ✓ | ||
Good food and support for adequate nutrition and hydration | ✓ | ||
Harm is minimised (e.g., falls, bruises) | ✓ | ||
Supporting and developing relationship with family carers | Collaboration between family and care home staff | ✓ | ✓ |
CH staff getting to know the family and obtaining trust | ✓ | ✓ | |
CH staff helping (supporting) family carers to prepare for their relative’s death and discussing grief | ✓ | ✓ | |
CH staff providing support | ✓ | ✓ | |
Family carers feeling prepared with plans in place, involved and informed; not making decisions under pressure | ✓ | ||
Family carers feeling that the right decisions have been made | ✓ | ||
Continuity, integration and multidisciplinary care | Good working relationships across services | ✓ | ✓ |
Regular staff who get to know individual needs of residents | ✓ | ✓ | |
EOL care provided at home/homelike environment | Home or homelike environment makes it more familiar, relaxed and safe and therefore more comfortable for person with dementia and family | ✓ | |
Care homes more homely and preferable to hospital | ✓ | ||