Literature suggests that patients living with dementia in the hospital are complex to care for, and staff are underprepared to meet their unique needs. This proportion is expected to significantly increase, creating an urgent call to action. The Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA) in Dementia Care: Supporting Persons with Responsive Behaviours is an evidence-based Canadian curriculum that is designed to help provide person-centered care for patients living with dementia in residential care, and offers a potential solution for other areas of practice. This poster highlights the benefits and limitations of introducing GPA in acute medicine and mental health units at Vancouver General Hospital.We used mixed methods to evaluate a GPA education program delivered through a 7.5-hour workshop for staff members from acute medicine and mental health units. After the GPA workshop, 112 staff completed the standardized GPA program evaluation survey. Using semi-structured open-ended questions, we interviewed 22 staff that completed the GPA education. Staff responses were thematically analysed.Eighty five percent of staff that attended the GPA workshops had no previous formal dementia care education. All staff agreed that the GPA course would improve how they cared for people with dementia in the hospital. Results of the interviews revealed useful information for future facilitation of GPA implementation in the hospital setting.Supporting the facilitators and addressing limitations around GPA implementation can further improve the confidence, efficacy and capacity for staff to successfully care for patients living with dementia in the hospital.
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