Do guidelines for care practice address the stability of home-based care arrangements for people with dementia?-A document analysis

Background The care of people with dementia (PwD) living at home is mainly provided by family carers who intend to maintain care at home for as long as possible. In the DZNE-SoCA project, a middle range theory of stability of home-based care arrangements for people living with dementia (SoCA-Dem theory) has been developed. The theory helps to understand the complex phenomenon of stability, provides a theoretical framework that can guide future research and can be used for the (further) development of home care structures. Aim The aim of this substudy of the SoCA project was to examine whether the SoCA-Dem theory can guide German health and social care practice in dealing with family carers of PwD. Material and methods The two guidelines for healthcare professionals, the concept of the Centre for Quality in Care (ZQP) "Quality framework for counselling in care" and the DEGAM guidelines for general practitioners "Family carers of adults", were evaluated using a content analysis with respect to the SoCA-Dem theory. Results Most concepts that constitute stability are addressed in both guidelines. The SoCA-Dem theory illustrates the importance of the interaction between the different concepts for the stability of home-based care arrangements. In the guidelines, the dynamic interplay remains unclear. Conclusion The SoCA-Dem theory seems to be compatible with the German health care context and can support a future shift from a stress-oriented view of giving care to a more comprehensive one.