Components of care or treatments influencing the quality of end-of-life care or lead to positive and preferred outcomes for dementia patients and their families
Abstract project
Background
Dementia is one of the greatest challenges facing older people all over the world. Despite the growing number of persons dying with dementia in nursing homes, important gaps remain in our knowledge of which components of care or treatments influence the quality of end-of-life care or lead to positive and preferred outcomes for dementia patients and their families.
Aims
The goals of this research project are: (1) to describe the characteristics of nursing home residents in Flemish nursing homes dying with dementia (2) to describe the end-of-life care, treatment decisions and end-of-life decision-making in terms of care structures, processes and outcomes (3) to identify structural elements and processes of care that are associated with improved or worsened outcomes (4) to make international comparisons between Flemish and Dutch nursing homes.
Methods
A retrospective mortality follow-back study will be set up that focuses on the quality of care delivered to Flemish nursing home residents who die with dementia. Researchers will retrospectively screen deceased nursing home residents with dementia up to 3 months. For the selected individuals with dementia information will be gathered from 3 key figures ; a nurse, the general practitioner and a next-of-kin.
