P4‐329: Caring for the Caregiver: Perception of Pharmacists as Care Providers

Abstract

Smartmove/ refer to NGO community-based programs) afterward. Nurses will follow up (by phone) the cases who need medication advice or disease management and provide carer support. Results: 1.ICAC was established for a year (Jan-Dec 2013) Background: There is growing consensus around the desirability of providing care that is tailored to the needs and preferences of frail older adults. An emerging body of evidence points to the centrality of recreational activities to person centered care and their effectiveness in enhancing well-being, especially for those with dementia. Yet, there remains a significant gap in the field regarding the measurement of person-centered care over time for quality improvement purposes in long-term care communities. Methods: This presentation reports on the use of a novel person centered quality indicator, called the MATCH (Matching Preferences to Create Happiness). MATCH is constructed by assessing resident preferences using the Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory (PELI) and tracking monthly preferred activity attendance. The reported indicator represents an objective measure of preference congruence (i.e., the match of care with preferences) for each resident. This presentation illustrates the use of this quality indicator as a care planning and quality improvement measure in a sample of 222 nursing home residents from a large skilled nursing home in the US. Descriptive information is provided for the sample, including reports of their most important preferences and the extent to which their preferences are being met. We then examine the change in preference congruence over a 12 month period (Sept. 2012-Aug. 2013) using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Findings demonstrate a repeated measures effect over time (p < .001), indicating significant changes in the level of preference congruence experienced by participants. In addition, significant group-by-time interactions are evident for residents differing in expressive language, language comprehension, vision, attention, disordered thinking, physical behaviors, resistance to care, eating, locomotion, and scores of Global Deterioration. Conclusions: Providers can use this measure to implement and evaluate person centered care programs in a variety of settings. However, preference congruence does not remain stable across a 12 month period and change is related to individual functional capabilities. Further work is needed to understand the reasons for change in preference congruence and to determine the strategies and methodologies needed to improve the match between residents' preferences and their care in the context of diverse population needs.