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Cited by 68Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchGeriatric Care and Nursing HomesAging, Elder Care, and Social Issues

‘I know they are not trained in dementia’: Addressing the need for specialist dementia training for home care workers

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Polacsek, Meg, Goh, Anita, Malta, Sue, Hallam, Brendan, Gahan, Luke, Cooper, Claudia, Low, Lee‐Fay, Livingston, Gill +9 more·2020·Health & Social Care in the Community
DOI 10.1111/hsc.12880
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Abstract

Global population ageing has meant a rapid increase in the numbers of older people with dementia, most of whom live in their own homes. Staying at home is an important determinant of health and well-being. As care needs increase, the quality of community support which older people receive directly influences their capacity to remain in their own homes. While many are supported informally by family carers, formal support provided by home care workers often enables them to remain at home for longer period. However, providing community-based care for people with dementia can be challenging. Workers often lack training in dementia-specific care for clients with increasingly complex needs, and typically work without direct supervision. As the demand for person-centred home care for people with dementia increases, specialist dementia training for home care workers is urgently needed. In this qualitative study, we used in-depth interviews of a purposive sample, comprising 15 family carers and four older people with dementia, to understand the experience of receiving community care. Data analysis was guided by Braun and Clarke's approach to thematic analysis and revealed the following five overlapping themes, relating to home care workers' understanding of dementia, person-centred care, communication and rapport, mutual collaboration, and the influence of organisational constraints on continuity of care. Although participants acknowledged that service providers operated under challenging circumstances, they were frustrated with home care workers' lack of dementia knowledge and inconsistent staff rostering. Conversely, an understanding of the lived experience of dementia, effective communication and rapport, and continuity of care contributed significantly to a positive experience of receiving care. The findings of this study will be used to inform the essential elements of a training program aimed at enabling and empowering a skilled, specialist home care workforce to support older people with dementia to live well at home for as long as possible.

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  • Prior studies have identified elements considered important for "good" home care for people living with dementia, including the availability of formal home care services and support, and the perceived knowledge, security and dignity needed to care for a person with dementia.

    “In contrast, studies have identified elements considered to be important for “good” home care for people living with dementia [11,15–17]. These elements include the availability of formal home care services and support, in addition to the perceived knowledge, security and dignity needed to care for a person with dementia [11,15].”

    From Towards defining quality in home care for persons living with dementia (2022) · cites this paper as [17]

  • Previous findings echo frustration over inconsistent scheduling and staffing.

    “Similarly, previous findings echo frustration over inconsistent scheduling and staffing [17].”

    From Towards defining quality in home care for persons living with dementia (2022) · cites this paper as [17]

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Authors
Polacsek, M., Goh, A., Malta, S., Hallam, B., Gahan, L., Cooper, C., Low, L., Livingston, G., Panayiotou, A., Loi, S., Omori, M., Savvas, S., Batchelor, F., Ames, D., Doyle, C., Scherer, S., & Dow, B.
Affiliations
  • National Ageing Research Institute (AU)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (AU)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • Safer Care Victoria Melbourne Vic. Australia
  • Royal Freemasons Melbourne Vic. Australia
Corresponding author
Goh, Anita
ORCID
Venue
Health & Social Care in the Community
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-10-23
Volume
28
Issue
2
Pages
475-484
ISSN
  • 0966-0410 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2524
DOI
10.1111/hsc.12880
OpenAlex
W2981662823
Cited by
68
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 9
FWCI
5.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Health & Social Care in the Community (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • La Trobe University
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1137705)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
Keywords
dementia, home care workers, person-centred care, community-based care, older people living at home, family caregivers, continuity of care, staff rostering, organizational constraints, population aging
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Communication, Dementia, Female, Humans, Inservice Training, Interviews as Topic, Male, Home Health Aides, Qualitative Research

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