Inclusion and support of family members in nursing homes

Abstract

The involvement of family members in nursing homes is vital for the well-being of people with dementia residing in nursing homes. They can contribute to maintaining a sense of personhood, assist with care, and are advocates for people with dementia. Despite this wide acknowledgement of the importance of family participation in nursing homes, barriers to the implementation of participatory family care have been identified. This chapter describes common dilemmas in care practice in establishing collaboration and partnership between staff and family in nursing homes. Important barriers relate to attitude and role conflict, communication, and the organization. Furthermore, promising interventions (such as the Partner in Caregiving program) and new care models aimed at small-scale, homelike care environments are presented in building partnerships.