INNOVATIONS OF A LEARNING COMMUNITY TO OPTIMIZE DEMENTIA-CAPABLE ADULT DAY SERVICES - Vol. 9 - Abstract citation ID igaf122.1711

Sep 29, 2026

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Adult day services (ADS) provide social and healthcare support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their family caregivers. Sustainable, standardized dementia-capable ADS approaches are essential. The study outlines a learning community within Cal-COMPASS, spanning seven sites, using documentation and 14 focus groups with staff and directors. Qualitative analysis guided five workgroups addressing staffing, training, financing, screening and measurement, and caregiver support. The community produced guidelines and resources to standardize and sustain care in California while enabling access for diverse ADRD populations and care partners.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study purpose and context

Learning community structure and methods

Workgroup themes (staffing, financing, screening, caregiver support)

Outputs: guidelines and resources

Facilitators and future research

500 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1711 INNOVATIONS OF A LEARNING COMMUNITY TO OPTIMIZE DEMENTIA-CAPABLE ADULT DAY SERVICES Orly Tonkikh1, Jessica Famula2, Janice Bell3, Shikha Bhurtel2, Quynh Vo2, and Heather Young3, 1. University of Haifa, Haifa, HaZafon, Israel, 2. University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States, 3. Betty Irene Moore School Of Nursing at UC Davis, Sacramento, California, United States Adult day services (ADS) offer social and healthcare services to enhance quality of life of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their family caregivers. Sustainable approaches to standardized dementia-capable ADS are vital. This study describes the structures, processes and accomplishments of a learning community developed to advance and integrate best practices for dementia-capable ADS as part of Cal-COMPASS (California Community Program for Alzheimer’s Services and Supports) program, involving seven sites. We collected learning community documentation and conducted 14 focus groups with 16-24 staff and directors from each organization participating in Cal-COMPASS at baseline and upon completion. The data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive methods. To develop an optimal dementia-capable ADS model, five workgroups focused on structural and process-related elements required for effective dementia-capable ADS including staffing and professional training, financing and sustainability, screening and measurement, and caregiver support practices. The learning community developed a comprehensive set of guidelines and resources to promote the standardization and sustainment of dementia-capable services and to make them accessible to the diverse populations of persons with ADRD and their care partners in California. Each workgroup had accomplishments, including recommendations for assessment and care. The participants identified substantial long-term expertise, a wide range of skill, strength, and capacity mix as facilitators of collaborative knowledge sharing and action. Future research could explore how learning communities promote quality of care, as well as long-term adoption and impact of the established practices for persons with ADRD and their caregivers.

FAQs

What is the purpose of the learning community described in the study?

It is designed to develop and integrate best practices to advance dementia-capable adult day services within the Cal-COMPASS program across seven sites.

How were the data collected and analyzed?

Researchers collected learning community documentation and conducted 14 focus groups with staff and directors from participating organizations. Data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive methods.

Which five elements did the workgroups focus on to build an optimal ADS model?

The workgroups focused on staffing and professional training, financing and sustainability, screening and measurement, and caregiver support practices, as structural and process-related elements.

What outputs were produced to support standardization and sustainment of dementia-capable services?

The learning community created a comprehensive set of guidelines and resources to promote standardization and sustainment and to make services accessible to diverse ADRD populations and care partners in California.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Ben