Meridith McClenaghan
Purpose: Patients with dementia are often deemed not appropriate for rehabilitation programs. This study explored the experiences of inpatient interprofessional teams members on rehabilitation units managing care for patients with dementia in addition to the primary reason for their hospitalization.
Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to capture the inpatient interprofessional team perspectives. Recruitment yielded 6 participants for the study. Data were collected through 2 focus groups and 1 interview. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
Findings: Three main themes emerged; (a) assessment and Intervention for both patient and the team; (b) communication both internal and external to the unit; and (c) systems.
Conclusion: This study addresses a gap in the literature related to the pressing care needs of the ageing population. It captured perspectives on how interprofessional teams manage care for clients with dementia, and provides a set of recommendations for quality improvement.