title: [Application of the Balance of Care model in decision-making regarding the best care for patients with dementia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the implementation of the Balance of Care model in decision-making regarding the best care for patients with dementia in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Balance of Care model was used, which consists of (1) describing the profile of the typical cases of people with dementia and their caregivers, (2) identifying the most suitable care setting for each of the cases (home-care or long-term care institution), (3) designing specific care plans for each case, and (4) evaluating the cost of the proposed care plans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,641 people with dementia and their caregivers from eight European countries were used in the case design. The evaluation of cases was conducted by 20 experts in different medical fields of dementia. In Spain, the results indicated that initially the most suitable placement to take care of people with dementia was the home, however in cases with higher dependency in activities of daily living, the long-term care setting was the best option. For the best care plan, the following resources were chosen: professional help to perform basic activities; day center; multidisciplinary home care team; financial support; community nurse; and social worker.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Balance of Care method allows us to assess the most appropriate place of care for people with dementia systematically, objectively and with a multidisciplinary team. Other cost-effective interventions should be integrated in patients with dementia care in order to improve home care.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Risco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Adelaida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zabalegui
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud Gimbernat i Tomàs Cerdà, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sant Cugat del Vallès (Barcelona), España.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primària Comte Borrell, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvira
authors.affiliation: Escuela Superior de Ciencias de la Salud TecnoCampus, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Mataró (Barcelona), España. Electronic address: ecabrera@tecnocampus.cat.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cabrera
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D000073216:Mental Status and Dementia Tests; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010348:Patient Care Team
keywords: Cuidado domiciliario; Decision-making; Demencia; Dementia; Home care services; Toma de decisiones