How Hospital Environments Affect Care Partners of Dementia Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Catherine Still, Sydney Hoel, Andrea Strayer, Nicole Werner, Beth Fields
Primary Institution: University of Wisconsin Madison
Hypothesis
The physical environment of hospitals influences the inclusion of care partners in the care of hospitalized people living with dementia.
Conclusion
Improving the hospital environment can enhance the inclusion of care partners, potentially leading to better health outcomes for patients with dementia.
Supporting Evidence
- Care partners often feel excluded from hospital care.
- The study identified three key aspects of the hospital environment that affect care partner inclusion.
- Improving physical spaces in hospitals can lead to better health outcomes for dementia patients.
Takeaway
This study found that making hospitals more welcoming for family members of dementia patients can help them feel included in care.
Methodology
The study used a descriptive qualitative approach, including 27 hours of direct observations and interviews with 15 care partners and 23 clinicians/administrators.
Limitations
The study may not represent all hospital environments as it was conducted in a single large academic hospital.
Participant Demographics
Care partners and clinicians/administrators from various hospitals across the country.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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