Development and Expert Review of a Prototype Nursing Summary for Older Adults with Dementia

Abstract

Older adults with dementia often struggle to adapt to environmental changes during hospital admission and discharge due to cognitive decline; consequently, maintaining consistent care through robust information sharing between hospitals and long-term care facilities is vital. A previous study revealed that standard nursing summaries lacked specific information necessary for effective dementia care. To address this gap, we developed a prototype nursing summary and evaluated its utility. Alongside standard items, the prototype incorporated functional abilities, aspiration risk (including guidelines for thickened fluids), dementia-related symptoms, care approaches, and personal preferences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six professionals (nurses and care workers), each with over five years of experience. Results indicated that the volume of information and the number of items were appropriate. Notably, documenting ‘abilities’ was regarded as beneficial for promoting improvements in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and mobilization care. However, participants highlighted the need for more granular items, revised terminology, standardized formatting, and improved mutual understanding between hospitals and care facilities. These findings suggest that prototype nursing summaries may serve as an effective tool to enhance continuity of dementia care.