Caring for people with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's dementia in UK care homes - A mixed methods study

There is little known about the prevalence and care needs of people with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's dementia in care homes. These are complex conditions with particular issues around providing good quality care. This study sets out to estimate the prevalence of these conditions and to establish the care staff's knowledge about them, using a survey of care home managers and interviews with key staff members. The prevalence of dementia in the homes involved with was estimated to be to be 57%, with 7.4% of those with dementia having dementia with Lewy bodies and 4.1% having Parkinson's disease dementia. In spite of these conditions being relatively common, staff felt they were poorly equipped in terms of knowledge and training to provide for their specific needs. This study demonstrates a need for specific training and an increased awareness of these conditions.