What do nursing home staff know and understand about dementia and a palliative approach to dementia care

Forbes, Aileen

What do nursing home staff know and understand about dementia and a palliative approach to dementia care

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Division of Interdisciplinary Palliative Care and Medicine

Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: Globally, the number of people diagnosed with dementia is set to continue to rise, and in the advanced stage of this disease, many patients require nursing home (NH) care. The symptom burden of advanced dementia suggests that a palliative approach to care is not only appropriate but necessary, and NH staff need a sound understanding of dementia and the role palliative care plays in alleviating suffering. Little is known about the knowledge held by NH staff in South Africa in these areas. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine what NH staff know and understand about dementia and palliative care. Methods: The study used a mixed methods design, with quantitative data obtained by 184 participants completing questionnaires on dementia and palliative care, and quantitative data from the interviews of 14 NH staff. The quantitative and qualitative data were then merged through a narrative discussion. Results: The findings of this study indicate that knowledge gaps exist in dementia and palliative care across all categories of staff in the NHs that participated in this study. It also highlights reliance on intuition and personal experience rather than on the education of NH staff to deliver high-standard care and draws attention to unmet training needs and the impact end-of-life care has on NH staff. Conclusion: The knowledge gaps seen consistently across facilities not only identify training needs but highlight the untapped potential of NH staff to provide quality palliative care to patients with advanced dementia. Further research looking at the specific unmet needs of patients with advanced dementia in NHs in South Africa, and how best to maximise the potential of NH staff through education and training would be valuable.

Keywords

Palliative Medicine

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