The 'tipping point': Exploring the factors associated with entry into residential care for people with dementia in Western Australia.

BACKGROUND

People with dementia usually prefer to live in the community. Research is needed to identify the 'tipping point' for residential care entry and to highlight how people with dementia can be supported to remain at home as long as possible. Few previous studies have examined caregivers' perceptions and explanations for the reasons people with dementia need to enter residential care in Australia.

AIM

To explore the factors contributing to people with dementia entering residential care in Perth, Western Australia, from the perspectives of informal carers and care staff.

METHOD

This phenomenological study used purposive sampling to recruit informal and formal caregivers of people with dementia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 family carers and 11 home care staff. Data were thematically analysed to identify individual, carer and contextual factors that impact on residential care entry.

FINDINGS

The majority of participants identified a combination of factors as the 'tipping point' to residential care entry; a few also identified the cause as a sudden event or specific issue. Factors identified included deterioration related to worsening cognition, changed behaviours and a decline in the performance of activities of daily living; co-occurring health conditions; safety concerns; carer no longer able to meet care needs; impact of providing support becoming too much for the informal carer; lack of family or social support and needing assistance from services that were unavailable or inaccessible. Factors assisting people with dementia to remain living at home longer were family and social support, formal services and dog ownership.

CONCLUSION

This study identified individual, carer and contextual factors that contribute to people with dementia entering residential care in Australia. The 'tipping point' was recognised as when the needs of a person with dementia outweigh the capacity of their informal and formal carers, services and supports to care for them.