Toye, C.

When people with dementia are hospitalised, their capacity to communicate with the staff may be limited, compounding risks of distress and other adverse outcomes. Opportunities for carers to share relevant information to inform appropriate person-centred care are also limited. This four-phase mixed methods study aimed to develop an evidence-based family carer–staff communication form, the Focus on the Person form, to address this concern. In Phase I, a literature review plus consultation with clinicians and carers informed form development.

Background Family carers of people living and dying with dementia experience grief. The prevalence, predictors and associated factors of grief in this population have been identified, and psychosocial interventions to decrease grief symptoms have been implemented. However, the effect of psychosocial interventions on family carers’ grief, loss or bereavement has not been examined.