Long-Term Care Characteristics That Influence the Utility and Effectiveness of Nonpharmacological Therapies for People with Dementia

Political, economic and organizational factors shape requirements for long-term aged care (LTC) serving people with chronic conditions, including dementia. Organization size, ownership and human resources need to be considered when examining the use and effectiveness of nonpharmacological modalities for people with dementia in LTC. Since LTC facility size, ownership, managerial leadership and staff-to-resident ratio appear to consistently influence staff capability to give quality care, these structural factors will also likely enhance, or limit, the therapeutic benefits of nonpharmacological approaches in dementia care. This issues paper recommends further debate in establishing consensus on the necessary criteria for successful implementation and realistic evaluation of nonpharmacological approaches when caring for the person with dementia in LTC.