Client‐as‐Partner Care: A Grounded Theory Study of Formal Care Service Providers for Persons With Early‐Onset Dementia

AIMS: To develop a grounded theory that explains how formal care service providers experience caring for and supporting persons with early-onset dementia (EOD). DESIGN: A grounded theory approach. METHODS: Thirty formal care service providers of persons with EOD were recruited from community-based dementia care facilities in northern and central Taiwan from August 2021 and February 2022 using purposive and theoretical sampling. Transcribed face-to-face, semi-structured interview data were analysed with constant comparative analysis. A theoretical framework was constructed from the data to describe the experience of being a formal care service provider for persons with EOD. RESULTS: The core category of 'client-as-partner care' was the theoretical framework that explained the experience of formal care service providers and described how participants met the needs of persons with EOD. Five categories described the components of the process: (1) identifying clients' characteristics; (2) establishing a personal relationship; (3) enhancing self-esteem; (4) maintaining dignity; and (5) the influence of family members and community members. The first four categories were interactive and key to delivering client-as-partner care; the fifth category could alter any key component and reduce or improve the quality of care. Reflections shared by participants offered a window into the outcomes of successful client-as-partner care: quality of life improved for clients and job satisfaction increased for providers. CONCLUSION: The client-as-partner care model for persons with EOD required knowledge of the client's unique characteristics, a strong provider-client relationship, offering strategies tailored to the client's abilities and interests, and fostering independence. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Client-as-partner care provides a person-centred approach that enhances support quality for persons with EOD and increases job satisfaction for formal care providers. Successful strategies can inform case management, strengthen support for this population and indirectly improve family caregivers' competencies. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. REPORTING METHOD: COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research).