Interventions to support people with dementia and their informal caregivers during the transition from home care to nursing home care – a protocol for a systematic review / Interventionen zur Unterstützung von Menschen mit Demenz und ihren Angehörigen während des Übergangs von der häuslichen Pflege ins Pflegeheim – ein Studienprotokoll für eine systematische Übersichtsarbeit

Quality of life

Mental well-being

Physical well-being

Participation in daily activities

Mood

Performance in activities and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/IADL)

Depression

Mortality

Changing behaviour (e.g. agitation, aggression)

Quality of life

Mental well-being

Physical well-being

Social participation of informal caregiver(s)

Burden/stress of care

Informal caregiver(s) knowledge

Informal caregiver(s) satisfaction with support or care

Coping

Sense of competence

Depression

The transition from home care to nursing home care is a decisive moment in the life of persons with dementia and their informal caregivers.

Informal caregivers suffer from stress, burden, anxiety and often feel not prepared for the transition period with little information and support.

Most people with dementia show behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms during the transition period associated with a lower quality of life, lower general well-being, anxiety and/or depression.

Although a number of systematic reviews on non-pharmacological interventions either for people with dementia or informal caregivers have been published, none have specifically focused supportive techniques and interventions for people with dementia and their informal caregivers during the transition period from home care to nursing home care.

It remains unknown so far whether interventions delivered by nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, physiotherapists or other healthcare professionals are effective.

An overview of the existing knowledge on treatment programs will be generated aimed to inform healthcare professionals, policy makers and decision makers how to improve healthcare provision for people with dementia or their informal caregivers.