Enhancing Parkinson’s Disease Care in Care Homes: A Scoping Review of Staff Education and Training Interventions

Introduction
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common and fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition globally.  Many older adults with PD reside in care homes, where staff may lack the necessary training to manage the condition effectively.  This scoping review aimed to examine the evidence on education and training interventions for care home staff in relation to PD care.

Method
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR framework.  Six databases were searched for empirical studies focused on PD-related training or education for care home staff.  Inclusion criteria were applied, and data were extracted and thematically analysed.  Study quality was appraised using JBI checklists.

Results
Seven studies met the inclusion criteria.  Four key themes emerged: (1) improved staff knowledge and confidence following training; (2) enhanced care practices, including better communication and medication management; (3) lack of specialist PD education across the sector; and (4) the importance of communication-focused training.  Most studies were of moderate quality, and a significant gap in published research was noted.

Conclusion(s)
While available evidence suggests PD-specific education for care home staff may improve knowledge and care quality, this area remains significantly under-researched.  Development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive and accessible training programmes are urgently needed to support staff in delivering high-quality care for people living with PD in care homes.