Eklund, M., Jensen, L.H. (2012) “Special Dementia Care in Rural Districts, Collaborative
Action Research”. IPA 2012 International Psychogeriatric Association International Meeting
2012, Cairns, Australia, 7.-11.9.2011. Peer reviewed abstract/oral presentation
Abstract
Special Dementia Care in Rural Districts, a Collaborative Action
Research Project
Eklund, M., Jensen, LH
Background Due to demographic changes in the elderly population there is an increase in the
numbers of elderly people with moderate to severe dementia. Persons with behavioral and
psychiatric symptoms in dementia are in need of complex care from different levels within
health care services. There is a demand for collaboration and exchange of knowledge.
Aim The overall aim is to strengthen the collaboration between services and the competence
in rural districts to persons with behavioral and psychiatric symptoms in dementia. The
research questions describes 1) how the services are organized 2) the environmental factors,
and 3) systematic support to relatives.
Method The research context is six rural municipalities in Norway with a total of 20 000
inhabitants, and approximately 200 persons with mid and severe grade of dementia living in
nursing homes. Data generation and the analysis are conducted together with the managers
and practitioners from each community in cyclical group processes and dialogue conferences,
inspired by collaborative action research (Coghlan & Brannick, 2010).
Findings There are sheltered units for persons with dementia in some nursing homes, but
mostly mixed groups. All nursing homes have access to an outdoor environment and are in
process of developing therapeutic gardens. The nursing personnel are stable, but few have the
required postgraduate education. Relatives are welcome, but are not systematically supported.
Inter-municipal cooperation is desirable in order to build up special care units. This will be
discussed in the presentation.
Conclusion The differences in levels of staff education, the staffing factor and physical
conditions between nursing homes and hospitals is marked, and contributes to major
challenges for the patient, relatives and staff in nursing homes. Strengthening; a) training and
the educating of staff and b) building appropriate housing in an inter-municipal co-operation,
c) monitoring of the patient's relatives and introducing systematic voluntary assistance can
provide better services in the light of challenges related to demographic and epidemiological
changes. Further research and knowledge is therefore required.
Ref: Coghlan, D., Brannick, T. (2010). Doing action research in your organization. 3rd ed.
London:Sage.
-----------------------------Jensen, L.H., Eklund, M.L. (2012) “Building learning communities of practice in homecare
nursing”. The CARN/IPDC Conference 2012, Cantebury Christ Church University, Asford,
Kent, UK, 23. – 25.11.12. Peer reviewed abstract/oral presentation