Dementia care 1: Person centred approaches help to promote effective communication.

BACKGROUND

This first in a three part series on dementia care explores communication. The Gold Standards Framework includes a workstream on improving end of life care in care homes; communication is one of seven key tasks within the GSF.

AIM AND METHOD

This study aimed to gather the views of care home staff on communication issues. Focus groups were conducted with 36 members of direct care staff from nine nursing and residential care homes.

RESULTS

Three types of communication were identified: staff to staff, staff to resident, and staff to family.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The implications of different approaches to communication are discussed, and recommendations made for practice.