title: Can We Help Care Providers Communicate More Effectively With Persons Having Dementia Living in Long-Term Care Homes?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective communication between residents with dementia and care providers in long-term care homes (LTCHs) is essential to resident-centered care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of a communication intervention on residents' quality of life (QOL) and care, as well as care providers' perceived knowledge, mood, and burden.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention included (1) individualized communication plans, (2) a dementia care workshop, and (3) a care provider support system. Pre- and postintervention scores were compared to evaluate the effects of the intervention. A total of 12 residents and 20 care providers in an LTCH participated in the feasibility study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of care providers' adherence to the communication plans was 91%. Postintervention, residents experienced a significant increase in overall QOL. Care providers had significant improvement in mood and perceived reduced burden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the communication intervention demonstrates preliminary evidence of positive effects on residents' QOL and care providers' mood and burden.
authors.affiliation: 1 Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|2 Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: McGilton
authors.affiliation: 1 Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|3 Faculty of Medicine, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rochon
authors.affiliation: 4 School of Nursing, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Souraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sidani
authors.affiliation: 1 Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|5 School of English and Liberal Studies, Seneca College Newnham Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: 1 Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|3 Faculty of Medicine, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|6 Communication, Aging and Neuropsychology Lab (CANlab), Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel.|7 Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|8 St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Boaz M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ben-David
authors.affiliation: 8 St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saragosa
authors.affiliation: 9 School of Health & Life Sciences and Community Services, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Veronique M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Boscart
authors.affiliation: 10 School of Nursing, Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada.|11 Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.|12 Patient-Centred Performance Measurement & Improvement, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Rozanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: 13 College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Karmit K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Galimidi-Epstein
authors.affiliation: 1 Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|14 Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M Kathleen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pichora-Fuller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: communication intervention; long-term care homes; resident-centered care; staff–resident interactions; tailored interventions