Pilot Testing Decision Making in Aging and Dementia for Autonomy Program in Nursing Homes

DIGNITY is a multi-component, multi-level intervention that guides shared decision-making in nursing homes to support person-centered dementia care. Based in theory, this intervention targets nursing home staff attitudes and behaviors around assessing and judging whether to engage in risk situations to support resident preferences for everyday living and care despite cognitive decline due to dementia. It includes a protocol manual, baseline training on how to implement the DIGNITY strategy, and six ECHO sessions to help frontline staff negotiate intrinsic and cultural factors in preference situations that carry a risk to residents' health and safety.

This is an attention control intervention with similar dose of educational content and attention from interventionist. It includes distribution of links to the CDC Infection Control Practice Guidelines for nursing homes, a baseline training on infection control practices for frontline workers, and six ECHO coaching sessions.