BeStaDem - Experts

Dementia special care for people in nursing homes – a qualitative expert interview study

The focus of the study is to evaluate 1.) the aim and 2.) the feasibility of dementia special care in nursing homes from the view of different experts in the field. The evaluation gives an answer to the question, if dementia special care has the ability to reach its aims in consideration of the context in which it is implemented and the needs of the people receiving dementia special care. Therefore, the characteristics of dementia special care are related to the legal and financial conditions in nursing homes and mirrored against the needs of the people receiving dementia special care. Problems with the implementation are described and possible solutions and improvements are suggested.

The research questions are answered by analyzing qualitative expert interviews. Experts from the field are representatives from nursing homes that provide dementia special care and representatives from cost bearers that are involved in decisions on the financing of dementia special care. They give advice in developing the interview guide and discussing the final results. Interviews are conducted with 10-15 experts and analyzed by applying content structuring techniques (Mayring, 2010).

The results are the first step of a realist evaluation that aims to develop an initial theory about contextual aspects that are needed to facilitate an effectively working Dementia Special Care Unit (DSCU) and which mechanisms enhance or hinder their successful implementation (BeStaDem).