Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in nursing care are complex and demand a highly professional approach. The study aimed to identify the main concerns and develop a classic grounded theory regarding assistant nurses’ care interactions when encountering these symptoms. Ten assistant nurses were observed during 70 hr of their shifts in two nursing homes. The Theory of Validating Identity was developed to maintain residents’ orientation, which became the core category. Life story, reminiscence, and other identified nursing care contexts, care interventions, and care actions demonstrate the smooth integration of person-centered dementia nursing care. The Theory of Validating Identity elucidates nursing interactions focused on care users’ identities and connected to two dimensions—body, mind, and soul—intertwined with components of time and space. Applying this theory to daily practice could optimize care management, facilitate the development of tailored, individualized care plans, and enhance clinical practice to foster advanced person-centered dementia care.
Staller et al. (Fri,) studied this question.