Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a family support program for staff supporting family members of persons with dementia receiving day service.
Methods: Subjects included staff and families who were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group (experimental group; staff n=41, families n=48, control group; staff n=22, families n=45).
The program was composed of a 45-minute lecture and 45 minutes of exercises regarding dementia approaches and how to support families. The data were collected at baseline and after three months for both groups, and the experimental group's data was also collected immediately after the program.
Conclusion: In the experimental group, the staff's dementia knowledge increased immediately after the program, but these effects diminished over time, suggesting a need for adding periodic “boosters” to the program design.
The Staff Empathy Scale asked families the degree to which they perceive staff as being understanding. This item increased after participation in the program, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program in increasing the empathy of the staff.
