lower consumption of psychotropic drugs and better emotional well-being

The results of the pilot project Gizarea, the new model of care focused on relationships that the Provincial Council of Álava wants to implement in residences for the elderly, show that it favors a lower consumption of psychotropic drugs by residents and an improvement in the well-being of professionals and family members.

This pilot was developed from October 2021 to last June in a module of Laqua Residencein which live 23 people with an average age of 85 years and a psychogeriatric profile, s high rates of dependency, advanced frailty and severe dementia.

“The the results are very good and this encourages us to extend the application of the model to other dwellings“, assured the regional deputy. Emilio aloneduring the presentation of the results.

Thus, residents have seen an improvement in some indirect indicators of quality of life, such as level of fragilityand especially in reduced need for psychoactive drugs. On the other hand, families have a greater emotional well-being and greater satisfaction with caregiving received from adopted relatives. And in the professional team, reduced feeling of stress and work tensionand increases feelings of emotional well-being.

As highlighted by the regional deputy for social policies, the care model Gizarea, It goes beyond human-centered care to being human-centered. relationships between professionals, family members and residents“. In this first phase, targeting people with advanced dementia “who cannot express their wants or needs”looking for Gizarea “a greater involvement of families in care, greater emotional commitment of professionals and improved well-being of consumers, workers and families”points out Emilio Sola.

The process started with professional and family training, separately, but above all together, “which is an innovative aspect. This training succeeded in promoting another type relationships much closer, emotional and empathic“emphasizes the regional deputy.

Decreased consumption of psychoactive drugs and less weakness

Since the beginning of the implementation of the Gizarea model, it has been evaluated, especially in the opinion of families, a reduction of behavioral symptomswith significant reduction in the intake of psychoactive drugs (antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics and neuroleptics) if needed, and which was confirmed in June with a lower schedule of these drugs.

Thus they have reduced dose or completely suppressed these drugs in 54% of people. In addition, there is reduced brittleness indexthat is, with a vital prognosis going from advanced frailty to moderate frailty.

Family satisfaction with care increased from 26.8 to 29 points (out of a maximum of 30) and in terms of their emotional well-beingpositive emotions increased and negative emotions decreased, as did feelings of loneliness.

Reduced stress and improved emotional well-being

In relation to social and health staff, the work stress index was reduced by 12 points percentage and its weight, in 15 points. The labor tension index fell by 13 points and its severity fell by more than 21 points. As for his emotional well-being, the overall rating went from 7.4 (out of ten) to 7.88. The growing sense of commitment to the work and its meaning stands out, especially the positive emotions generated.

According to Emilio Sola, “This data shows that we are running a very serious project that we think will have to go a long way in our residences and that improves the quality of life of professionals and family members. And that building and improving relationships looks like improving the quality of life of residentsespecially with the need for drugs”.

With this positive initial balance, Alava Provincial Council will continue to develop the Gizarea model in all its aspects and resources. The next step from the Gizarea model in the Lakua residence is creating new internal structures between family members and professionalsto act in the phases of reception in the center and hygiene of old people.

In addition, this project will be expanded in the coming months to a second Lakua module and to Residences Etxebideafor people with severe intellectual disabilities and Adjuriafor the elderly, as well as to the home Arabianthe vacancies of which will be arranged with the Provincial Council and which will soon be opened.