title: Improving quality of life for people with dementia in care homes: making psychosocial interventions work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychosocial interventions can improve behaviour and mood in people with dementia, but it is unclear how to maximise their effectiveness or acceptability in residential settings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand what underlies the successful implementation of psychosocial interventions in care homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The synthesis of 39 qualitative papers revealed that beneficial psychosocial interventions met the needs of people with dementia to connect with others, make a meaningful contribution and reminisce. Successful implementation rested on the active engagement of staff and family and the continuing provision of tailored interventions and support. This necessitated staff time, and raised issues around priorities and risk, but ultimately helped redefine staff attitudes towards residents and the caregiving role.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings from the meta-synthesis can help to inform the development and evaluation of psychosocial interventions in care homes and support their widespread implementation in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fossey
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.forename: Esme
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moniz-Cook
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000592:standards*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome