As online therapy continues to expand, practitioners must stay informed about the latest research to improve their skills and provide high-quality care. A recent study titled Do clinical guidelines support person-centred care for women affected by dementia: A content analysis offers valuable insights into how clinical guidelines can be optimized to support person-centred care for women with dementia. This blog aims to highlight key findings from this research and suggest practical ways for online therapy practitioners to implement these insights into their practice.
Key Findings from the Research
The study reviewed 15 clinical guidelines on dementia care from various countries and found significant gaps in the guidance provided for person-centred care, especially for women. Key findings include:
- Most guidelines addressed general aspects of person-centred care such as exchanging information, sharing decisions, and enabling self-management.
- Few guidelines provided detailed guidance on managing uncertainty or fostering a healing relationship.
- Regarding dementia-specific person-centred care, most guidelines acknowledged the need for intersectionality but lacked comprehensive content on quality of life, dignity, or sex/gender issues.
Practical Recommendations for Practitioners
Based on these findings, here are some practical recommendations for online therapy practitioners:
- Foster a Healing Relationship: Build a strong therapeutic alliance with both the person living with dementia and their caregivers. Regular check-ins and empathetic communication can help in establishing trust.
- Exchange Information: Ensure that information is communicated clearly and empathetically. Use both verbal and written formats to provide comprehensive information about the condition, treatment options, and available support services.
- Enable Self-Management: Develop individualized self-management plans that consider the unique circumstances of each person. Regularly review and adjust these plans as needed.
- Address Emotions: Routinely inquire about the emotional well-being of both the person living with dementia and their caregivers. Provide referrals to support services and community resources when necessary.
- Manage Uncertainty: Set realistic expectations and reassure both the person living with dementia and their caregivers that ongoing support is available to manage emerging issues.
- Promote Quality of Life: Offer a range of activities tailored to the person’s preferences and stage of dementia. Regularly assess and adjust these activities to ensure they remain beneficial.
- Preserve Dignity: Respect the dignity of the person living with dementia through your behavior and counsel their caregivers to do the same. Routinely assess for potential abuse or neglect and offer appropriate interventions.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study highlights significant gaps in current guidelines, it also underscores the need for further research to better understand the experiences and needs of women living with dementia and their caregivers. Practitioners are encouraged to stay updated with ongoing research and integrate new findings into their practice to continually improve the quality of care they provide.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Do clinical guidelines support person-centred care for women affected by dementia: A content analysis.
