NUTRITIONAL WELL-BEING OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA-SOME GOOD PRACTICES IN DEMENTIA FAMILY CARE IN KERALA By Robin Jose[1] and Dr Mahajan P Mani[2]

Abstract

                Purpose: We conducted this study to explore the practical knowledge base identified and developed by families for caring persons with dementia which will have wider application in families, institutional settings, developing training modules and practice guidelines in the field of quality dementia care. Design and Methods: It is a qualitative study using case study design. The universe of this study is the whole families in Kottayam district of Kerala having persons with Dementia, who are cared in families itself. We employed purposive sampling and have selected six families with good care practices as samples for detailed case study. These families were selected by consulting doctors and social workers working in association with ARDSI, Kottayam Chapter. Primary data for the study was collected from the family members (primary care givers) of the dementia patients and interview schedule was used as the tool of data collection. Data analysis and interpretation has done using the techniques and methods of qualitative researches like acoustic recording and transcription. Results: Even though the family care givers are not trained for providing care; they have developed their own strategies and techniques to provide maximum comfort to the patient through nutritional well-being by adequate food and fluid consumption. Implications: All the good practices identified are already proved effective by the families through years of practice, so it have wider application in different settings and in developing training modules and practice guidelines for quality dementia care. 

Key words: Dementia, Quality Care, Person with Dementia (PwD), Family Care, Good practices.

[1]   CBA, GFATM, School of Behavioural Science, MG University, Kottayam, Kerala

[2]   Professor, Social Work, SGTDS, Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, Kerala.

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