sentations: P3 P565

P3-301 UNDERSTANDING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF

Poster Pre

INFORMAL CARE OF PEOPLEWITH DEMENTIA:

A FAMILY CARERS’ PERSPECTIVE

Prabhjot Singh, Private, Pacific Pines, Australia.

Background: The number of people with dementia is projected to increase

over the coming decades, which in turn would accentuate issues of informal

care provision, in particular care provided by the family carers of people

with dementia. Considering these projections, this study aimed to explore

the broader question of how family carers of people with dementia

living in the community successfully manage and sustain informal caring

at present, and how they will provide care in the future.Methods: The study

was conducted in Queensland, Australia, using a qualitative methodological

framework with thematic analytic technique as the research method. In

addition to thematic analysis, the constant comparison method with its

roots embedded in Grounded Theory was partially applied to understand

and give meaning to the themes and codes in a given caring situation.

Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews based on

an interview guide, which contained questions developed using key

issues that emerged from a preliminary literature search relating to the

sustainability of informal care, specifically family care of people with

dementia. Results: Thematic analysis highlighted that the caring effort

(effort by carers using personal strategies and/or informal supports) and

caring capacity (factors influencing caring capacity, in particular formal

support services for carers) were the two key phenomenon that assisted

carers to proactively manage and sustain their caring responsibilities.

Results and findings of the study indicated a balance between caring effort

and caring capacity as critical for the future sustainability of informal care.

Conclusions: This study highlighted that carers consider maintaining

a “balance in caring effort and caring capacity” with support from formal

care services as the key to the future sustainability of informal care of people

with dementia. Further, the study also highlighted that the sustainability of

informal care is dependent on both the individual carer’s ability to sustain

care and on a sustainable formal care system incorporating effective and

responsive services.

P3-302 ATTITUDES OF THE GERMAN GENERAL

POPULATION TOWARD EARLY DIAGNOSIS

OF DEMENTIA

Tobias Luck, Melanie Luppa, Steffi Riedel-Heller, University of Leipzig,

Leipzig, Germany.

Background: Early diagnosis of dementia has clearly improved applying

neuropsychological, imaging and biochemical indicators. However, none

of the currently available interventions for the most common form of de-

mentia, the Alzheimer’s disease, promises a cure. Given this background,

this study aims to describe attitudes towards early diagnosis of dementia

in the German general population. Methods: A representative telephone

survey of the German population 18+ years (n ¼ 1,002) was conducted in

April 2011. Results: 91% of the study participants stated that an early

diagnosis of dementia should be offered. The vast majority (71%) also in-

clined that they would have an early diagnosis in case they are affected.

Two thirds of the respondents see their General practitioner as first source

of help, followed by neurologists, memory clinics and psychiatrists to

a much lesser extent. 62% committed that they think something could

be done against dementia. Answers to an open questions regarding what

might help showed that mainly psychosocial interventions were favoured,

only 9.4% regarded medication as helpful. Conclusions: The German

general population is very open for an early diagnosis of dementia, how-

ever this seems connected which large expectations regarding influence

on course of dementia. Although the GP is seen as first source of help, it

is known that recognition of pre-dementia and mild forms of dementia

in primary care settings is low. Implications for matching expectations

to the care actually provided and designing services more acceptable to

the consumers are discussed.

P3-303 ENHANCING CARE PRACTICES FOR RESIDENTS

WITH DEMENTIA

Alison Campbell, Sandra Davis, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.

Background: Residential aged care has traditionally been task oriented. In

this context, a person-centred approach to care is compromised and indeed,

difficult to even introduce. The Australian Government Department of

Health and Ageing, Encouraging Best Practice in Residential Aged Care

Program funded a two-year study involving aged care facilities in seven

locations. The project was aimed at implementing existing evidence specific

to creating dementia friendly physical and social environments, and to facil-

itate best practice in addressing behaviours of concern. This project utilised

Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) as one strategy to inform care practice and

to effect sustainable person-centred practice. Methods: This presentation

describes how DCM feedback to staff did effect changes to observable

care practices. The data from the project indicates how DCM feedback

was a vehicle for staff to be provided with an opportunity to see evidence

of the direct effect their interaction had on residents’ well-being. Two-

hour mapping period was done between mid-point and end-point (6-hour

mapping period), to provide staff with feedback on trials which had been

implemented to enhance the care environment. The feedback sessions pro-

vided structured time and discussion on their interactions with residents and

proved to be a powerful resource for empowering staff with insights they

previously did not have time to observe, let alone reflect on. Results: There

was a significant reduction in sleep recorded, along with a higher incidence

of resident activities (BCCs), which had a high potential for well-being.

Observations of positive interactions between staff and residents increased

whilst negative interactions diminished. Conclusions: The discussion will

include pre- and post-data and an analysis of outcomes for residents and

observable changes in care practices.

P3-304 COPING WELL: COUNSELING TO PROMOTE

INDIVIDUAL AND CAREGIVERWELLNESS—A

COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR MCI/DEMENTIA

PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES

Edward Shaw1, Jonathan Adams2, Joseph Wilkerson2, Kaycee Sink3,

Jeff Williamson4, Samantha Rogers4, Dana Chamberlain4, Philip Clarke2,

Julie Williams5, 1Wake Forest University and Wake Forest Baptist Health,

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States; 2Wake Forest University,

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States; 3Wake Forest Baptist

Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States; 4Wake Forest

Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States;5No Institution Submitted.

Background:Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are largely progres-

sive and incurable, placing significant psychological, social, emotional, and

spiritual burdens on the person with dementia (PWD), primary caregiver

(PCG), and family members (FM). In October 2011, Wake Forest Baptist

Health (WFBH) initiated a counseling program as an extension of its geri-

atrician-led Memory Assessment Clinic (MAC), a comprehensive program

for evaluating patients with symptoms of dementia. The goal of the Coping

Well counseling program is to promote wellness, “a holistic approach in

which mind, body, and spirit are integrated . in a purposeful manner

with a goal of living life more fully (Myers, Sweeney, and Witmer,

2000),” for the PWD, PCG, and FM.Methods: Patients, PCG, with/without

other FM are seen in theWFBHMAC for comprehensive evaluation.Mental

health assessments for the PWD include the Geriatric Depression Scale

(GDS) and Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS); the PCG provides information

needed to complete the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) and Neuropsychiat-

ric Inventory (NPI). Assessment results that suggest moderate to severe

depression or anxiety, based on the GDS, GAS, CBS, and/or NPI, or signif-

icant individual, caregiver, or family stress in the judgment of the