Training for Staff and Family in Person-Centered Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia: A Scoping Review

Background Palliative care is essential for enhancing the quality of life of individuals with life-limiting illnesses. This scoping review investigates the educational and training requirements of healthcare professionals who provide effective, person-centred palliative care to nursing home residents with advanced dementia, a population that presents complex physical and behavioural challenges. Our scoping review aims to identify and evaluate existing studies on palliative care education and training interventions for dementia in nursing homes. We focus on various aspects, including the types of interventions and their delivery formats, content, acceptability, effectiveness, outcome measures, evaluation methods, and intended learning outcomes. The goal is to inform the development of comprehensive global curricula for healthcare professionals and caregivers. Methods Guided by the JBI methodology and the PRISMA-ScR checklist, we conducted a thorough literature search across multiple databases, including CINAHL, Medline, and ERIC, as well as grey literature sources. Using the population, concept, and context (PCC) framework, we included 27 relevant studies. Results Our findings indicate a significant gap in effective education and training frameworks. Many interventions lack consistency, scalability, and culturally tailored approaches necessary for meeting the intricate care needs of residents with advanced dementia. Conclusion This review highlights various educational initiatives mainly directed at nursing home staff, with fewer resources available for families. It underscores the urgent need for training programs designed to address the complex, person-centred care demands of advanced dementia, providing critical insights into effective delivery methods amidst limited staff resources.