Always on alert: How relatives of family members with dementia experience the transition from home to permanent nursing home placement.

AIM: Our aim was to gain insight into how the relatives of family members with dementia have experienced their family members' transition from home to permanent nursing home placement. DESIGN: Our research was a qualitative case study. METHODS: Inspired by Kvale and Brinkmann's phenomenological-hermeneutic approach, we performed the thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews describing how the relatives of family members with dementia have experienced the dementia trajectory. RESULTS: Twelve relatives of family members with dementia living in nursing homes agreed to participate. The descriptions of relatives' experiences indicated four primary themes: mismatches between healthcare services and the family members' needs, witnessing the family members' cognitive decline, the effects of the experiences on the relatives' health and well-being and what matters to the relatives during their family members' transition to nursing home. Mismatches between available resources in the municipalities and the family members' healthcare needs were the most distressing experiences, along with the family members' gradual cognitive decline. In response, the relatives stressed individualized support, continuity in follow-up care and regular information-sharing between them and staff members caring for their family members. They also highlighted the importance of facilitating seamless transitions from home to nursing homes.

Anxiety, Anxiety Symptoms, and Their Correlates in Persons with Dementia in Norwegian Nursing Homes: A Cause for Concern.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known about anxiety and its associations among persons with dementia in nursing homes. This study aims to examine anxiety, anxiety symptoms, and their correlates in persons with dementia in Norwegian nursing homes. METHODS: In all, 298 participants with dementia ≥65 years old from 17 nursing homes were assessed with a validated Norwegian version of the Rating Anxiety in Dementia scale (RAID-N). Associations between anxiety (RAID-N score) and demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed with linear regression models. RESULTS: Anxiety, according to a cutoff of ≥12 on the RAID-N, was found in 34.2% (n = 102) of the participants. Irritability (59.7%) and restlessness (53.0%) were the most frequent anxiety symptoms. The participants' general physical health, a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, and anxiolytic use were significant correlates of higher RAID-N scores. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about anxiety, anxiety symptoms, and their correlates may enhance early detection of anxiety and planning of necessary treatment and proactive measures among this population residing in nursing homes.