Studies of residential respite care were eligible for inclusion. The included studies delivered respite care in nursing homes, hospitals and aged-care facilities. The mean duration of respite care was between 2 and 3 weeks, where stated. One study compared outcomes associated with residential respite care with outcomes associated with respite care at home (while awaiting residential respite care). Studies that measured behavioural symptoms in care recipients were eligible for inclusion. Studies of caregiver outcomes were excluded. The following outcomes assessment scales were used: Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist, Behavioral Assessment Instrument, Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly Behaviour Rating Scale, Functional and Behavioral Scale for Advanced Dementia, Behavioral Adjustment Scale and the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale. Assessments were completed by researchers and/or home caregivers and respite care nurses. The timing of assessments varied and included pre-respite, at admission, during respite, at discharge and/or post-respite. Most of the studies conducted 2 to 5 assessments and had a total duration of 2 to 6 weeks, but one study conducted 12 assessments and continued follow-up for 3 months post-respite. Studies of older people with mild to severe dementia (either first or repeat users of respite care) were eligible for inclusion. Participants with extreme behavioural symptoms were excluded from one study. Where stated, the mean age of the participants in the studies varied from 69 to 82 years, and two studies were restricted to male U.S. armed forces veterans. Two studies included participants both with and without dementia, reporting the outcomes separately. Qualitative and quantitative studies were eligible.
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.