Experiences of using Dementia Care Mapping™ on a male acute older adult inpatient unit for over 65s

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Dementia Care Mapping™ is an observational tool developed by the University of Bradford to help care staff understand the lived experiences of individuals living with dementia living from their own perspective. This is especially important when the individual displays behaviours that challenge care staff, as DCM™ can help identify experiences and environmental factors that may further contribute to, or help alleviate, the distress associated with this behaviour. While DCM™ is more commonly used in residential and nursing care settings, it can also be utilised within inpatient settings where patients may stay for extended periods of time. This paper reflects on the use of DCM™ within a male acute hospital inpatient unit for adults over 65, exploring the benefits and challenges associated with its utilisation. The reflections suggest that, despite practical difficulties, adaptations can be made to support the effective use of DCM™ within acute settings, and the overall benefits DCM™ outweigh these challenges.