The needs of older people with dementia in residential care

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 43 - 49
• Main Authors: Hancock, Geraldine A., Woods, Bob, Challis, David, Orrell, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.01.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety Disorders - complications; Anxiety Disorders - nursing; assessment; Biological and medical sciences; CANE; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia; Dementia - nursing; Dementia - psychology; Depressive Disorder - complications; Depressive Disorder - nursing; Elder care; elderly; England; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Geriatric psychiatry; Geriatrics; Health Services for the Aged; Health Services Needs and Demand; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Leisure Activities; Long-Term Care; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; needs; Needs analysis; Needs Assessment; Neurology; Nursing homes; Older people; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychoanalysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; residential care; Social Behavior Disorders - nursing; Social Behavior Disorders - psychology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Wales; England; Wales; Human; needs; Nervous system diseases; residential care; CANE; Care; Cerebral disorder; Senile dementia; assessment; Need; Gerontology; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Elderly; Geriatrics
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.1421

Background People with dementia often move into care homes as their needs become too complex or expensive for them to remain in their own homes. Little is known about how well their needs are met within care homes. Method The aim of this study was to identify the unmet needs of people with dementia in care and the characteristics associated with high levels of needs. Two hundred and thirty‐eight people with dementia were recruited from residential care homes nationally. Needs were identified using the Camberwell Assessment of Needs for the Elderly (CANE). Results Residents with dementia had a mean of 4.4 (SD 2.6) unmet and 12.1 (SD 2.6) met needs. Environmental and physical health needs were usually met. However, sensory or physical disability (including mobility problems and incontinence) needs, mental health needs, and social needs, such as company and daytime activities, were often unmet. Unmet needs were associated with psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression, but not with severity of dementia or level of dependency. Conclusion Mental health services and residential home staff need to be aware that many needs remain unmet and much can be done to improve the quality of life of the residents with dementia. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.