NEWER GUIDELINES FOR CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Eleftherios Stratakis, Marianna Mantzorou, Ioannis Kalemikerakis, Anna Kavga, Sotirios Plakas
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Publication year:
2020
Authors:
- Stratakis Eleftherios, Registered Nurse, Post Graduate student “Community and Public Health Nursing” Department of Nursing, Uni-versity of West Attica
- Mantzorou Marianna, 1. Lecturer of applications University of Western Attica, PhD(c) National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Kalemikerakis Ioannis, 2. Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Department of Nursing, Athens University of Applied Sciences, Greece
- Kavga Anna, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, University of West Attica
- Plakas Sotirios, RN, MSc, PhD, Lecturer, Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Technological Educational Institution (TEI) of Athens, Greece
Keywords index:
Pages: 233-245
Abstract:
Introduction: Dementia is a chronic disease that causes severe disturbance of the higher mental functions with problems in the patient's daily, professional and social life. Caring for people with dementia is associated with high levels of burden, depression, and poor quality of life for caregivers. Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the most recent information available regarding guidance to the family and caregivers of dementia patients. Material and Method: A bibliographic search was performed at PubMed database online with appropriate keywords and search filters for the period 2015-2019. Results: Of the 110 research articles identified after studying in detail, 18 were included for this study. New guidance for caregivers was connected with the use of smart health technology applications to monitor patients' physical and mental health. Other guidance concerned improving sleep, incontinence problems, feeding and managing violent behavior in relation to patients and caregivers themselves, specific training in disease management and promotion of their personal mental and physical health. Conclusions: The effective use of scientific evidence to improve the quality of life of caregivers and the care provided to patients with dementia is a major challenge for nursing science in the community. Community nurses must regularly update scientific evidence and disseminate to the community all resources available to improve the quality of life of the caregivers of dementia patients which in turn will improve the care they provide.
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