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Exploring the community nurse role in family-centred care for patients with dementia. (Brit J Com Nurs. 2016, 21(4), p.198-202)

A diagnosis of dementia can have a significant effect, not only on the person diagnosed, but also on the person’s family. Drivers within national policy and strategy to raise awareness and promote education have improved the understanding of dementia across professional groups, as well as within the wider population. However, families living with dementia still struggle to find information and support. This paper explores the common issues faced by families, and focuses on a relationship approach to care. The role of the community nurse can be central to supporting people with dementia and their families to live well in their own communities. The paper uses a casestudy approach to discuss three scenarios commonly raised by family carers and people with dementia: (1) seeking help and support at point of seeking diagnosis, (2) knowing the ‘right time’ to seek help and advice, and (3) when symptomatic changes affect wellbeing and relationships.

Exploring the community nurse role in family-centred care for patients with dementia. (Brit J Com Nurs. 2016, 21(4), p198-202) (Follow this link if you have an Athens password). Alternatively contact the UHSM Academy Library for a copy of the article or call 0161 291 5778)

Nursing cuts will damage care, says head of RCN (Nursing Standard 2016 30(43) pps. 9-9)

RCN general secretary Janet Davies has warned politicians and health service managers not to cut the nursing workforce to meet the NHS funding gap.

The Academy Library does not currently subscribe to the journal that this article appears in, however we can most likely request it from another library. Please contact the UHSM Academy Library for more detail or call 0161 291 5778.

Transcultural nursing strategies for carers of people with dementia. (Nursing Older People. 28(3) p.21-25)

Caring for a family member with dementia is stressful, and carers from all backgrounds often feel overwhelmed and under-supported. Professional and family carers’ perceptions of the challenges and satisfactions of caring are influenced by culturally derived expectations. However, experiences of caring often differ from stereotypical norms. Experiences of carer stress and beliefs about the nature and extent of support that can be expected from social networks and statutory services may differ between cultural groups in the UK, but sensitive advice, information, and emotional and practical support are universally required. Transcultural comparisons reveal similarities between carers’ needs and enable identification of values-based culturally congruent recommendations that nurses can use to promote black and Asian minority ethnic carers’ confidence and wellbeing.
This article, based on practice experience and a literature review, explores the effect of caring among different cultural groups and offers recommendations for culturally congruent interventions to support carers. It provides evidence-based guidance to enable nurses to meet their responsibilities for transcultural working, as laid out in the Care Act 2014. A scenario illustrates recommendations for practice.

Study highlights link between unfairness and staff sickness (Nursing Standard 2016, 30(43) pps. 38-39)

No one wants to feel they are unfairly treated at work – whether it is a suspicion that other people are promoted above them without reason, that they get more than their fair share of unpopular shifts, their views are not listened to or they receive no explanation about why things are happening.

Effectiveness of START psychological intervention in reducing abuse by dementia family carers: Randomized controlled trial. (Int Psychogeriatrics, 2016, 28(6) p.881-887)

Background: Family carers of people with dementia frequently report acting abusively toward them and carer psychological morbidity predicts this. We investigated whether START (STrAtegies for RelaTives), a psychological intervention which reduces depression and anxiety in family carers also reduces abusive behavior in carers of people living in their own homes. We also explored the longitudinal course of carer abusive behavior over two year. Conclusion: There was no evidence that START, which reduced carer anxiety and depression, reduced carer abusive behavior. For ethical reasons, we frequently intervened to manage concerning abuse reported in both groups, which may have disguised an intervention effect. Future dementia research should include elder abuse as an outcome, and consider carefully how to manage detected abuse.

Gender bias favors female nursing students in the written examination evaluation: Crossover study (Nurse Education Today 2016 Vol. 45, p. 57–62- )

Gender discrimination against male nursing students has been reported and attributed to the female-dominated tradition of nursing profession.

Safe staffing levels in Scotland’s NHS are to be enshrined in law, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is set to announce

Sturgeon will set out plans for new legislation to reinforce patient safety when she addresses the Royal College of Nursing congress in Glasgow tomorrow.
Her announcement follows widespread concerns about staffing levels in the NHS.

Access the paper by clicking here Safe staffing levels in Scotland’s NHS are to be enshrined in law, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is set to announce

Enhancing caregivers’ understanding of dementia and tailoring activities in frontotemporal dementia: two case studies. (Disab and Rehab. 2016 38(7) p.704-714)

The purpose of this study is to describe the intervention process and results of the Tailored Activities Program (TAP) in two people diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Method: TAP is an occupational therapy (OT) community-based intervention program that prescribes personalised activities to reduce difficult behaviours of dementia. The OT works with carers over a 4-month period (assessment, activity prescription and generalisation of strategies). Study measures were collected (blind researcher) pre- and post-intervention: cognition, functional disability, behavioural symptoms and Caregiver Confidence and Vigilance. Results: A 51-year-old woman with behavioural-variant FTD could consistently engage in more activities post-intervention, with scores indicating improvements to behaviour, function and caregiver confidence. A 63-year-old man with semantic variant FTD engaged well in the prescribed activities, with scores reflecting reduced carer distress regarding challenging behaviours and improved caregiver vigilance. Conclusions: TAP is efficacious in FTD, allowing for differences in approach for FTD subtype, where behavioural symptoms are very severe and pervasive.

Enhancing caregivers’ understanding of dementia and tailoring activities in frontotemporal dementia: two case studies. Disab and Rehab. 2016 38(7)pp. 704-714) (Follow this link if you have an Athens password). Alternatively contact the UHSM Academy Library for a copy of the article or call 0161 291 5778)

Effect of horticultural therapy on wellbeing among dementia day care programme participants: A mixed-methods study (Innovative Practice). (Dementia, April 2016)

Fourteen people attending an adult day programme were recruited to a structured horticultural therapy programme which took place over 10 weeks. The effects were assessed using Dementia Care Mapping and questionnaires completed by family carers. High levels of wellbeing were observed while the participants were engaged in horticultural therapy, and these were sustained once the programme was completed. This study adds to the growing evidence on the benefits of horticultural therapy for people with dementia who have enjoyed gardening in the past.

Meaningful activities for improving the wellbeing of people with dementia: beyond mere pleasure to meeting fundamental psychological needs. (Perspectives in Public Health. 2016 136(2) p.99-107)

Dementia is being increasingly recognised as a major public health issue for our ageing populations. A critical aspect of supporting people with dementia is facilitating their participation in meaningful activities. However, research to date has not drawn on theories of ageing from developmental psychology that would help undergird the importance of such meaningful activity. For the first time, we connect existing activity provision for people with dementia with developmental psychology theories of ageing. The narrative review highlights that activity provision for people with dementia goes beyond mere pleasure to meeting fundamental psychological needs.

Meaningful activities for improving the wellbeing of people with dementia: beyond mere pleasure to meeting fundamental psychological needs. (Perspectives in Public Health. 2016 136(2) pp. 99-107 (Follow this link if you have an Athens password). Alternatively contact the UHSM Academy Library for a copy of the article or call 0161 291 5778)