Background

In previous research, the Family Carer Decision Support (FCDS) intervention was found to reduce family carer decision-making uncertainty on establishing goals of care at the end of life and improve family carer satisfaction on fundamental choices for comfort and quality of care.

There are three core elements to the FCDS intervention:

1. Provision of a Comfort Care Booklet to family carers.
2. Training of nursing home staff.
3. Delivery of a Family Care Conference.

The main aim of mySupport study is to adapt, implement and evaluate the FCDS intervention in six countries.

Specifically, this study will:

1. Adapt: the Comfort Care Booklet and a Question Prompt List for each country participating in the study.
2. Implement: the Comfort Care Booklet with Question Prompt List in nursing homes for people with advanced dementia using Family Care Conferences or meetings.
3. Evaluate: the impact of the intervention on family carers and nursing home staff.

In this study, ‘nursing home’ is used to refer to a collective institutional setting in which care is provided to older adults, on-site 24 hours a day, including on-site or off-site nurses and medical staff.