Volunteer-supported Care Transition Interventions for People Living with Dementia: A Secondary Analysis of a Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION

Rising dementia rates can worsen the strain on the healthcare system and increase hospital admissions. Hospitals decondition persons living with dementia (PLWD), for which volunteers can offer support. We reviewed existing literature on volunteer-led/supported care transition services available to PLWD, assessing PLWD representation and the extent to which their needs are addressed.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of a scoping review examining volunteer and third-sector personnel providing post-discharge support. Of the review's 49 articles, we considered services offered to PLWD and persons with cognitive impairment (PWCI). The Camberwell Assessment of Needs for the Elderly (CANE) guided the thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four of our nine selected articles highlighted services supporting PLWD, though only one was developed explicitly for them. The most common themes of needs targeted or met were physical health (n = 7), company (n = 7), food (n = 6), medications (n = 6), and psychological distress (n = 6).

DISCUSSION

We described the characteristics and outcomes of these volunteer-led/supported care transition interventions. Comparing the leading PLWD needs against those the interventions primarily addressed revealed potential oversight of their most critical needs. However, volunteers remain valuable in supporting discharged community-dwelling PLWD.

CONCLUSION

In hospital-to-home care transitions, volunteer-led/supported transitional care models benefit PLWD and their caregivers. However, few available interventions explicitly focus on this patient population. Therefore, this is an opportunity to understand better how volunteers and third-sector organizations could optimally support those living during care transitions through an integrated care approach.