scholarly journals Large-scale training in the essentials of dementia care in Australia: Dementia Care Skills for Aged Care Workers project

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S53-S57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Fleming ◽  
Diana FitzGerald
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Research Education ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Making A Difference ◽  
National Programs

ABSTRACTDementia has been identified as a national health priority in Australia. National programs in the areas of research, education and training have been established. The Dementia Care Skills for Aged Care Workers program is a three-year project that commenced in 2006. It has the goal of providing training in the essentials of dementia care to 17,000 staff of aged care services across Australia. Successful completion of the training results in the award of a nationally recognized qualification. Although the delivery of the training has been difficult in some areas – because of the long distances to be covered by trainers and trainees, a wide range of cultural backgrounds, and difficulties in finding staff to cover for people attending the training – the seven training organizations providing this training are on target to meet the goal. The project is being evaluated independently. The anecdotal reports available to date strongly suggest that the training is being well received and is making a difference to practice.A surprisingly large proportion of attendees (9%) have been registered nurses, which demonstrates the need among this group of staff for training in the care of people with dementia.

scholarly journals How, why and under what circumstances does a quality improvement collaborative build knowledge and skills in clinicians working with people with dementia? A realist informed process evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e001147
Author(s):  
Lenore de la Perrelle ◽  
Monica Cations ◽  
Gaery Barbery ◽  
Gorjana Radisic ◽  
Billingsley Kaambwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Quality Improvement Collaborative ◽  
Programme Theory ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
People With Dementia

In increasingly constrained health and aged care services, strategies are needed to improve quality and translate evidence into practice. In dementia care, recent failures in quality and safety have led the WHO to prioritise the translation of known evidence into practice. While quality improvement collaboratives have been widely used in healthcare, there are few examples in dementia care.We describe a recent quality improvement collaborative to improve dementia care across Australia and assess the implementation outcomes of acceptability and feasibility of this strategy to translate known evidence into practice. A realist-informed process evaluation was used to analyse how, why and under what circumstances a quality improvement collaborative built knowledge and skills in clinicians working in dementia care.This realist-informed process evaluation developed, tested and refined the programme theory of a quality improvement collaborative. Data were collected pre-intervention and post-intervention using surveys and interviews with participants (n=28). A combined inductive and deductive data analysis process integrated three frameworks to examine the context and mechanisms of knowledge and skill building in participant clinicians.A refined program theory showed how and why clinicians built knowledge and skills in quality improvement in dementia care. Six mechanisms were identified: motivation, accountability, identity, collective learning, credibility and reflective practice. These mechanisms, in combination, operated to overcome constraints, role boundaries and pessimism about improved practice in dementia care.A quality improvement collaborative designed for clinicians in different contexts and roles was acceptable and feasible in building knowledge, skills and confidence of clinicians to improve dementia care. Supportive reflective practice and a credible, flexible and collaborative process optimised quality improvement knowledge and skills in clinicians working with people with dementia.Trial registration numberACTRN12618000268246.

A younger onset dementia toolkit: Innovative practice

Dementia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 1299-1307
Author(s):  
Caroline Vafeas ◽  
Elisabeth Jacob ◽  
Alycia Jacob
Keyword(s):  
Expert Panel ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Community Environment ◽  
Innovative Practice ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Family ◽  
Specific Care ◽  
The Individual

A diagnosis of younger onset dementia requires specific care tailored to the individual and the family. Dementia care workers often do not have the skills and experience necessary to offer this care within the residential and community environment. This article reports the development of an interactive resource to educate those employed to care for people living with younger onset dementia. Prescription for Life, a talking e-Flipbook was developed and piloted in two states of Australia. Feedback from the pilots was incorporated in the resource prior to a national rollout. The project was supported by an expert panel, including experts from national aged care providers.

scholarly journals Improving Dementia Care Among Family Physicians: From Stigma to Evidence-Informed Knowledge

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-343
Author(s):  
Juanita-Dawne R. Bacsu ◽  
Farrah J. Mateen ◽  
Shanthi Johnson ◽  
Marc D. Viger ◽  
Paul Hackett
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Research Education ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Of Canada

Dementia is a national public health issue and a growing concern across Canada. Recently, the Government of Canada released a national dementia strategy focused on the need to prevent dementia, advance therapies, find a cure, and improve the quality of life for people with dementia. Family physicians are a primary source of care in discussing concerns of cognitive health and dementia, especially in rural and remote communities in Canada. However, research indicates that family physicians often lack knowledge and feel ill-equipped in providing care to older adults with dementia. Inadequate knowledge and education of dementia contributes to the stigmatization (stereotypes, labeling, discriminatory practices) of people with dementia and creates barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, studies show that there is dementia-related stigma among family physicians. We believe that there is a critical gap and urgent need for better dementia education and training among family physicians to improve dementia care, treatment and timely diagnosis. Thus, it is time to rethink our approach to dementia care in Canada, and to recognize that better care of older adults requires more evidence-informed research, education and interprofessional collaboration in order to reduce stigma and improve the quality of care for people with dementia.

Japan

2019 ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
Yumi Shindo ◽  
Akira Homma
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Educational Programmes ◽  
Set Up

There are two strengths of dementia care services available in Japan. One strength is the creation of the Integrated Community Care System, which aims to provide various services that the elderly might need within their areas of residence. It is the responsibility of local governments to set up the ICCS, because each community has different social resources, as well as differences in the local population and the number of elderly individuals. The other strength lies in the various educational opportunities in dementia available to medical and long-term care professionals. In 2001, the national government introduced educational programmes for care workers in the field of dementia care. In addition, educational programmes for medical doctors, managers of facilities/service centres for people with dementia, medical professionals working in hospitals, pharmacists, and dentists are currently provided under the government’s policies.

Effects of multisensory and motor stimulation on the behavior of people with dementia

Dementia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovana Sposito ◽  
Ana Barbosa ◽  
Daniela Figueiredo ◽  
Mônica Sanches Yassuda ◽  
Alda Marques
Keyword(s):  
Aged Care ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
Direct Care Workers ◽  
Severe Dementia ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Quasi Experimental

A quasi-experimental study using a pre–posttest design was conducted in four aged care facilities to assess the effects of a person-centred care (PCC) multisensory stimulation (MSS) and motor stimulation (MS) program, implemented by direct care workers, on the behaviors of residents with dementia. Data were collected at baseline and after the intervention through video recordings of morning care routines. Forty-five residents with moderate and severe dementia participated in the study. A total of 266 morning care routines were recorded. The frequency and duration of a list of behaviors were analyzed. The frequency of engagement in task decreased significantly ( p = .002) however, its duration increased ( p = .039). The duration of gaze directed at direct care workers improved significantly ( p = .014) and the frequency of closed eyes decreased ( p = .046). There was a significant decrease in the frequency of the expression of sadness. These results support the implementation of PCC–MSS and MS programs as they may stimulate residents’ behaviors.

Perspectives of the community-based dementia care workforce: “occupational communion” a key finding from the Work 4 Dementia Project

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate-Ellen J. Elliott ◽  
Christine M. Stirling ◽  
Angela J. Martin ◽  
Andrew L. Robinson ◽  
Jennifer L. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Support ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Job Roles ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Strong Attachment

ABSTRACTBackground: Community care workers’ experience of delivering support to people with dementia is less researched than that of residential workers. The purpose of the study is to explore community-based dementia care workers’ perspectives about their roles and the contextual variables that impact upon their work experiences.Method: A qualitative design was employed. Twenty-five community dementia care workers (average age 53 years, majority female and employed casually) participated in standardized semi-structured interviews about their job roles, training, employer agenda, organizational support, and intention to stay. A deductive approach to Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was adopted to identify key themes.Results: Three themes highlighted workers’ experiences. Occupational communion described strong attachment to clients and a desire for greater connection with colleagues. Job demands described the challenges of work, which varied with intensity. Job resources ranged from positive (strong organizational commitment) to negative (poor pay and conditions). Occupational communion was identified as a concept that exists at the interface between social and organization psychology that was perceived to be essential for adaptive coping. Identifying themes informed a conceptual model for designing intervention components aimed at improving workers’ skills, capabilities, and employer supportive functions.Conclusion: Occupational communion may be particularly relevant for women's caring careers and future research is needed to explore the relevance of this concept for men. To determine reliable change associated with interventions that target occupational communion, further investigation is required in relation to measurement approaches.

A Tangled Web: Deception in Everyday Dementia Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Dresser
Keyword(s):  
Dementia Care ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Workers

AbstractCare workers and families often engage in deception in everyday interactions with people affected by dementia. While benevolent deception can be justified, there are often more respectful and less risky ways to help people with dementia seeking to make sense of their lives.

scholarly journals A different story: exploring patterns of communication in residential dementia care

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD WARD ◽  
ANTONY A. VASS ◽  
NEERU AGGARWAL ◽  
CYDONIE GARFIELD ◽  
BEAU CYBYK
Keyword(s):  
Dementia Care ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
Constituent Elements ◽  
Provision Of Care

ABSTRACTThis article reports findings from a three-year project on ‘Communication patterns and their consequences for effective care’ that explored communication in dementia-care settings. As the proportion of people with dementia living in British care-homes continues to grow, there is a need to understand better their care. Using a range of qualitative methods, the project set out to identify the constituent elements of dementia-care practice and the patterns that characterise day-to-day relations in care homes. The tightly prescribed and standardised nature of the interactions between staff and residents is described: it raises questions about the capacity for dementia care to be truly person-centred. The project found that people with dementia are both capable of communication, and invest much effort in seeking to engage those around them, but are excluded from the monitoring, planning and provision of care in ways that we argue are discriminatory. The case is made for promoting and supporting communication as key skills and competencies for care workers. The value of measuring the level and quality of communication as a means to evaluate care is demonstrated. The authors question the priorities that currently guide care practice and argue that we need to listen to people with dementia and rethink what lies at the heart of dementia care.

scholarly journals Supportive care for older people with dementia: socio-organisational implications

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Francesco Miele ◽  
Federico Neresini ◽  
Giovanni Boniolo ◽  
Omar Paccagnella
Keyword(s):  
Supportive Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Depth Analysis

Abstract For many years, dementia care has been dominated by the standard medical approach, in which dementia is treated mainly with drugs, such as anti-anxiety, antidepressant and anti-psychotic medications. With the aim of seeking effective treatments for patients with dementia, over the last years, several contributions have criticised the pervasive use of drugs for the management of behavioural and physiological symptoms related to dementia, proposing personalised interventions aimed at supporting patients and their relatives from diagnosis until death. With particular reference to long-term settings, in this work, we aim at understanding the organisational implications of three types of interventions (labelled supportive care interventions – SCIs) that have characterised this shift in dementia care: person-centred, palliative and multi-disciplinary care. Conducted by following the integrative review method, our review underlines how SCIs have controversial consequences on the quality of care, the care-givers’ quality of life and cultural backgrounds. After an in-depth analysis of selected papers, we offer some considerations about the implications of SCIs for long-term care organisations and future research directions.

Improving well-being in dementia care for clients and carers

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 321-326
Author(s):  
Rhonda Riachi ◽  
Sally Markwell
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Communication Techniques ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Workers

Purpose This paper aims to highlight the results and emerging themes from a study concerning the effect of communication techniques that were tailored to each client in relation to the extent of their dementia. Dementia was viewed by the care workers primarily as a memory disability. Design/methodology/approach A short qualitative study of the communication techniques of care workers in England, who had received training in dementia care and some training in the SPECAL® method (Specialised Early Care for Alzheimer’s),was conducted through semi-structured interviews. Resulting data were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Findings Continued application of the SPECAL techniques appeared to reinforced clients’ sense of well-being and produced benefits for care workers’ own well-being. Research limitations/implications This small qualitative study suggests there can be beneficial effects for both clients and the care team when care workers tailor their communication behaviour to the needs of people with dementia. Further research on communication techniques in dementia care is needed and how these benefits might be translated into institutional settings. Originality/value Few research studies have been made of the SPECAL dementia care method, and this study was the first to look explicitly at the communication techniques that the care workers used with clients. Public health professionals are less likely to be aware of the SPECAL method.

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