Care Effectiveness and Standards of Dementia Special Care Units for Older Adults with Dementia in Pension Industry

Abstract

Dementia special care units (D-SCUs) is increasingly becoming the main mode of care for older adults internationally. As little is known about D-SCUs in China, this study aimed to analyze care efficiency and summarize the standards of Chinese D-SCUs.A questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews were conducted between June 2018 and July 2019 in six cities in China. Quantitative data about basic information and care satisfaction were collected from 25 care facilities. Qualitative data about the standards of the D-SCUs were collected fromthree cities that had issued such standards. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to evaluate the care efficiency of D-SCUs, and grounded theory was used to analyze qualitative data.Among the 25 surveyed facilities, 12 had established D-SCUs, of which eight(66.67%) were effective facilities. Thirteen facilities did not establish D-SCUs, of which two(15.38%) were effective facilities.Technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency of care facilities with D-SCUs were higher than those of without (P=0.016, P=0.022, and P=0.021, respectively). Standards regarding location, environment, beds, and service items varied among the three cities that had issued standards for D-SCUs.The D-SCU care mode is effective and professional, and can be further promoted in the development of pension industry in China. Further investigation into D-SCUs and related standard is needed.