Context. As the aging population grows, the incidence of dementia continues to increase substantially. However, the lack of a significant geriatric health care workforce as well as little dementia training among generalist health care workers leads to suboptimal care for persons living with dementia (PLWD). In particular, few evidence-based interventions exist to improve the quality of dementia care among hospice interdisciplinary teams caring for PLWD. Aliviado Dementia CaredHospice Edition is a quality assurance and performance improvement program that includes training, mentoring, and workflow enhancements, which aims to improve quality of hospice care provided to PLWD and their caregivers.Objectives. To determine the effectiveness of the Aliviado Dementia Care program in increasing dementia symptom knowledge of hospice interdisciplinary team members.Methods. About 53 hospice team members from two diverse hospices, consisting of social workers, chaplains, physicians, and nurses, participated in the Aliviado training program. In this prepost trial, 39 participants completed the Dementia Symptom Knowledge Assessment before and after completion of the program.Results. Paired t-tests showed significant differences before and after Aliviado training in depression knowledge and confidence, as well as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) knowledge, confidence, and interventions. The greatest percent change increases were in depression (15.2%) and BPSD (13.3%) confidence as well as BPSD interventions (18.4%). Qualitative feedback consistently emphasized that trainees could now effectively assess their patients for specific symptoms such as pain and agitation.
Conclusion.Aliviado is an evidence-based system-level intervention that improves clinical knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in treating PLWD enrolled in hospice.
A single dose of 100,000 IU VD could normalise the concentrations of 25OHD after 8 weeks of supplementation in Children with CP, but more studies are required to confirm these results.
Determine what interests of patients, physicians, family members, and the community are at stake in surrogate decision making for clinical care. Understand how the process and outcomes of surrogate decision making can be improved. Despite the attention it has received in recent years, surrogate decision making continues to be challenging for all involved. Currently accepted models for surrogate decision making often fail to ensure that patient's preferences and interests are protected, family caregivers are respected, and appropriate care is provided. As the American population ages, an increasing number of patients will require surrogate decision making, especially if the patient does not have a detailed advance directive (and sometimes even then). But more often, the patient's specific preferences are unknown. Would approaches beyond substituted judgmentdsuch as the Substituted Interests/Best Judgment Modeldserve patients and surrogates better? Using a role play format and case scenario, this session will reconsider surrogate decision making; the values, goals, and standards that inform it; and alternative approaches that may more ethically and effectively achieve its purposes in clinical care.
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