Working together in lifestory telling for residents in aged care facilities: A qualitative study of staff/family collaboration in aged care

Abstract

Introduction: The cognitive deficits associated with dementia often preclude residents in aged care facilities from being able to communicate their life histories, preferences and needs and staff typically rely on family to provide this information. This project explored the opinions of staff and families of participating together in the process of life storytelling for residents.Methods: Staff and families of residents with dementia in one aged care facility were invited to participate in lifestory telling. Semi structured interviews were then conducted with staff and families to explore their perceptions of working together.Results: Negative aspects reported by staff was the perception that some families expectations of care were too high, while family members reported a lack of communication with staff. Conclusions:Life story telling for residents provided a positive experience for participants, with reports that the process itself improved their relationships by increasing understanding.

Life‐story work in long‐term care facilities for older people: An integrative review

“…Of the thirteen papers (twelve studies), ten examined the experience of life‐story of people living with dementia (Buron, ; Egan et al., ; Eritz et al., ; Ervin, Cross, & Koschel, ; Heggestad & Slettebo, ; Kellett et al., ; McKeown et al., McKeown et al., ; Russell & Timmons, ; Subramaniam, Woods, & Whitaker, ), while the other three did not specify if the residents had a cognitive impairment (Bakken et al., ; Phenice & Griffore, ; Wills & Day, ). International representation was evident with the following: four from the UK, two each from Australia, Canada and Norway, and one each from New Zealand, Republic of Ireland and the USA.…”

“…International representation was evident with the following: four from the UK, two each from Australia, Canada and Norway, and one each from New Zealand, Republic of Ireland and the USA. Participants within studies were residents ( N = 150, range 4–73, mean 16) (Buron, ; Egan et al., ; Eritz et al., ; Heggestad & Slettebo, ; McKeown et al., , ; Phenice & Griffore, ; Russell & Timmons, ; Subramaniam et al., ; Wills & Day, ), staff ( N = 184, range 7–99, mean 26) (Bakken et al., ; Buron, ; Egan et al., ; Eritz et al., ; Ervin et al., ; Kellett et al., ; McKeown et al., , ) and families ( N = 25, range 3–12, mean 6) (Ervin et al., ; Kellett et al., ; McKeown et al., , ; Wills & Day, ). Within reporting the participants, McKeown et al.…”

“…All studies were conducted in residential aged care facilities; however, there is no indication within the studies regarding the culture of the care environment (person‐centred environment, task‐orientated approach). Some of the studies included staff who had attended education sessions on life‐story work (Bakken et al., ; Ervin et al., ); other studies did not specify if staff had received any training or education on life‐story work. It is also unclear from the studies what level of qualifications staff participants had, with some studies including nursing staff (Buron, ; Wills & Day, ) and others a mixture of nursing and care assistants (Bakken et al., ; Egan et al., ; Eritz et al., ) or not specified (Ervin et al., ).…”

“…Some of the studies included staff who had attended education sessions on life‐story work (Bakken et al., ; Ervin et al., ); other studies did not specify if staff had received any training or education on life‐story work. It is also unclear from the studies what level of qualifications staff participants had, with some studies including nursing staff (Buron, ; Wills & Day, ) and others a mixture of nursing and care assistants (Bakken et al., ; Egan et al., ; Eritz et al., ) or not specified (Ervin et al., ). Life‐story products within the review ranged from; life‐story/life‐history narratives (Bakken et al., ; Egan et al., ; Eritz et al.…”

“…Life‐story products within the review ranged from; life‐story/life‐history narratives (Bakken et al., ; Egan et al., ; Eritz et al. ; Russell & Timmons, ) included photography, life‐story collage (Buron, ), life‐story telling/life‐story telling recording (Ervin et al., ; Heggestad & Slettebo, ), family bibliography (Kellett et al., ), objects from life (Phenice & Griffore, ), life review sessions with life‐story book (Subramaniam et al., ) and life‐story book (McKeown et al., , ; Wills & Day, ).…”