Effects of a life history vignette on family member communication with persons with dementia

The worldwide population of people with dementia is expected to reach 115.4 million by the year 2050, leading to a significant increase in the population living in long-term care facilities. Family members of people with dementia living in long-term care identify visiting as the most important thing they can do for their relative, but often find visiting difficult and uncomfortable. Communication problems resulting from dementia are the factor most often cited as causing the difficulty of visits.;This research confirmed several previously identified themes: feelings of guilt in family members, ambiguous feelings towards the person with dementia and a desire for continuity. All participants expressed feelings that were consistent with the concept of personhood. Themes that had not been discussed in the literature were: discomfort with long-term care facilities, a desire for reassurance, and anxiety about visiting a relative with dementia.;Identified themes are discussed in relation to the literature. Recommendations for practice are made, and directions for future research are outlined.;This pilot project was an exploration of the visitation experiences of friends and family members of people with dementia living in long-term care. The researcher worked with close family members of four people with dementia to collect life history information and compile it into one-page life history vignettes, which were posted in the long-term care facilities in which the persons lived. Brief training in using the vignettes to improve communication was provided to regular visitors of the people with dementia: Close family members and regular visitors of the person were interviewed at the beginning and end of the project to determine if the process of compiling the vignette or the vignette itself affected their visitation experience and their perception of the person with dementia. Some participants reported improved communication with the person with dementia. Some participants reported feelings of renewed closeness with their loved one with dementia. All participants felt the project was worthwhile.