TITLE:
Interprofessional Collaboration for the Prevention of HAD in Elderly Patients with Dementia
AUTHORS:
Megumi Abe, Miho Hamayoshi, Atsuko Yasumoto
KEYWORDS:
DCT (Dementia Care Team), HAD (Hospitalization-Associated Dysfunction), IPW (Interprofessional Work), Older Adults with Dementia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.16 No.6,
June
3,
2026
ABSTRACT: Purpose: In acute care hospitals in Japan, a super-aging society, caring for older patients with dementia, who are at high risk for hospitalization-associated disability (HAD), is crucial. Thus, this study aimed to determine the type of interprofessional collaboration required to prevent HAD in older adults with dementia. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 staff members, and responses were qualitatively analyzed using a descriptive approach. Results: The analysis yielded the following three categories: (1) “Interprofessional collaboration for effective HAD prevention”; (2) “Interprofessional collaboration to adjust the medical care for older adults with dementia”; (3) “Interprofessional collaboration to ensure safety without physical restraints”. Conclusion: Broader interprofessional collaboration, including hospital and home care staff, is required along with interprofessional efforts to ensure safety while eliminating physical restraints, which can contribute to muscle weakness and helplessness.