The role of day-respite centres in supporting people with dementia to age in place: An interpretive phenomenological study

Issue addressed: Day-respite care opportunities for people with dementia help prevent informal carer burnout and enable ageing in place. Care workers in these settings are an under-researched workforce who play a pivotal role in providing an engaging and supportive environment for clients with dementia. This study aimed to understand their experiences of providing care for people with dementia. Methods: An interpretive phenomenological analysis explored the factors that challenge and enable day-respite centre workers of the sole facility in one regional Australian town to provide, what they perceive to be high-quality, person-centred care for people with dementia. Thematic analysis revealed four themes relating to the experience of providing care to people with dementia in this day-respite centre. Results: Care challenges associated with the symptoms of dementia were recognised by participants, however, these issues were mitigated by the powerful enabling factors, including a strong focus on a dementia-friendly care, operating within the centre. Thematic analysis yielded four themes of a person-centred workplace culture and strategy, embedded communication practices, provision of a safe and engaging environment, and positive staff attributes. These themes were perceived to make participants’ jobs more enjoyable, as well as improve their clients’ and carers’ quality of life. Conclusions: Day-respite centres offer a valuable resource for people with dementia and their carers, and their success depends on several key environmental and workforce factors. Accordingly, other facilities targeted at caring for this population should assess the feasibility of adopting similar strategies, including selecting and training specialised care staff, adapting the care environment to suit clients' physical and behavioural needs, and establishing routine multi-channel communication methods that effectively connect staff with other care providers, their clients, and their clients’ carers.