Background:Effective communication between residents with dementia and care providers in long-term care homes (LTCHs) is essential to resident-centered care.Purpose:To determine the effects of a communication intervention on residents’ quality of life (QOL) and care, as well as care providers’ perceived knowledge, mood, and burden.Method:The intervention included (1) individualized communication plans, (2) a dementia care workshop, and (3) a care provider support system. Pre- and postintervention scores were compared to evaluate the effects of the intervention. A total of 12 residents and 20 care providers in an LTCH participated in the feasibility study.Results:The rate of care providers’ adherence to the communication plans was 91%. Postintervention, residents experienced a significant increase in overall QOL. Care providers had significant improvement in mood and perceived reduced burden.Conclusion:The results suggest that the communication intervention demonstrates preliminary evidence of positive effects on residents’ QOL and care providers’ mood and burden.

Nursing managers and leaders in long-term care may promote improvements in effective nurse supervision performance as a way of reducing turnover and improving resident outcomes.

No abstract