Family Involvement in Care Study

Benefits

• Training of all staff to enhance care of residents with Alzheimer's disease

1. Counts towards six hours annual training in Alzheimer's required for all staff (Iowa)
2. approved for CEU's for licensed staff (no charge)
3. approved for unlicensed department heads by Inspection and Appeals
   

• Positive publicity about participation in the project will enhance marketing of the facility
• Participation in research concerning care of residents with Alzheimer's demonstrates to the public and the staff a commitment to improving the quality of care
• Inspection and Appeals views participation in research as an indication that facilities are continuing to seek ways to improve their service
• After completion of the trial, the facility will receive a summary of information about staff knowledge of Alzheimer's, stress experienced by staff, and staff attitudes towards families
• Contacts developed with project staff and College of Nursing faculty will augment the resources available to the facility
• Staff's participation in research of this type demonstrates to them that what they think and have to say is important
• Opportunity for the facility to involve nursing students in the research process

Costs

• Staff time for completing forms (all unit staff for 1 hour x 1 time; 20-30 mintues x 5 times)
• Staff time for training sessions (Experimental sites: all unit staff for 2 hours with 2 hours additional for staff involved in negotiationg contracts with families; Control sites: all unit staff for 1 hour)
• RN/LPN staff time for completing Functional Abilities Checklist and Global Deterioration Scale (minimal time per resident)
• Time for liaison person (team meetings every other month for 1 hours and other duties)