Translation, Evaluation, and Dissemination of the Dementia Isolation Toolkit
DIT-G
| Summary | The Dementia Isolation Toolkit (DIT), developed in Canada, supports staff in implementing isolation measures for people with dementia in a person-centered, safe, and dignified manner. The project aims to translate the toolkit for use in long-term residential care facilities in Germany, culturally adapt it, and test it in practice. A German version (DIT-G) will ultimately be made publicly available to long-term care facilities. |
| IfP Participants | Prof. Dr. Sascha Köpke Dr. Martin Dichter Swantje Seismann-Petersen Julie Guicheteau |
| Other Participants | German Alzheimer's Association Krefeld Municipal Senior Care Homes, Krefeld Evangelical Retirement Home Wahlscheid e.V., Lohmar Dr. Andrea Iaboni; University of Toronto, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Director of the Dementia Isolation Toolkit Project |
| Background | Isolation measures in long-term care facilities can lead to distress, disorientation, reduced participation, depressive symptoms, cognitive changes, and physical limitations in people with dementia. For staff, implementing isolation measures is often associated with moral stress when they must balance infection control with quality of life. |
| Objective | The DIT-G is designed to support the implementation of isolation measures for people with dementia in an ethically reflective and person-centered manner. |
| Methods | First, the Dementia Isolation Toolkit (DIT) will be translated into German and culturally adapted. Subsequently, the relevance and comprehensibility of the translated DIT-G version will be assessed through an expert survey (N = 15). Building on this, the practicality and usefulness of the DIT-G will be evaluated through a pilot study in residential long-term care facilities for older adults over a period of approximately two months. The experiences gained from its use will be analyzed through focus group interviews and a document analysis. Finally, the German-language tool will be disseminated. |
| Duration | 01/2023 – 12/2026 |
| Funding | German Alzheimer’s Association (Department of Health Services Research) |
University of Cologne School of Medicine
Institute for Nursing Science
Univ.-Prof. Sascha Köpke
address
Gleueler Straße 176-178
50935 Köln