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.

Australia

2019 ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Zeimer
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Australian Health ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Government ◽  
To Receive

Dementia is a major public health issue in Australia, with profound consequences for the healthcare system and society in general, with nearly 1.5% of the population living with dementia. It has wide-ranging effects on the healthcare system and society in general, and its prevalence is expected to increase significantly with the ageing of the population. Through the Medicare Benefits Schedule and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the Australian government funds services for diagnosis and assessment, as well as subsidizing medications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The government also funds community support groups and services to assist in the care, and improve the quality of life, of people with dementia. The Australian Health Ministers announced in August 2012 that dementia is a National Health Priority Area, the ninth medical condition to receive this important status.

Injuries and the Cost of Falls Among Older Adults—How Pharmacists Can Help

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Limona
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Medical Expenditures ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Considerable Morbidity ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Serious Injuries ◽  
Care Costs

Fall-related injuries are a serious public health issue among older adults. In addition to having a significant impact on our economy, these injuries are associated with considerable morbidity. Each year, 1 out of every 3 adults aged 65 and older fall; of these adults, 10% to 20% sustain serious injuries such as fractures or head traumas. Such injuries account for about 6% of medical expenditures for adults 65 years and older. Pharmacist interventions can prevent falls, thereby improving the quality of life of these older adults, preserving their independence, and significantly reducing health care costs.

Management of dementia

2020 ◽  
pp. 557-570
Author(s):  
Sarah Cullum ◽  
Tesema Taye
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Psychosocial Aspects ◽  
People With Dementia

The cornerstone of dementia care is social care, and much of this is delivered by the families and carers of people with dementia. The management of dementia should therefore focus on supporting and developing the care provided by family members and carers in the community, because their education and enablement will help to optimize the quality of life for all people living with dementia. This chapter concentrates on the assessment and management of people with dementia in the early and later stages of the disorder. At both stages we consider engagement, autonomy, respect, protection, and ethical issues, as well as describing the clinical and psychosocial aspects of treatment. The emphasis is on the broader principles of management, which apply to people with dementia of any aetiology, their families, carers, and communities, and take into account the different settings in which they may present.

Detecting and Managing the Untreated Pain in Dementia

2020 ◽  
pp. 342-356
Author(s):  
Anne Corbett
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Dementia Syndrome ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Person Centered Approach ◽  
Established Treatment

Dementia affects more than 30 million people worldwide and is a major public health issue because of the complex treatment and care needs of these older patients. Pain is very common in people with dementia and is closely linked to key clinical outcomes, including mobility and falls, behavioral symptoms, mental health, and quality of life. Effective pain management is therefore essential to provide a good quality of care for these individuals. Pain assessment and treatment can be challenging in dementia because of loss of communication and insight as the condition progresses. There are also indications that the dementia syndrome itself affects the experience of pain and response to established treatment approaches. Guiding principles for pain management are therefore focused on a person-centered approach, with careful monitoring to avoid the risk for polypharmacy and treatment sensitivity that is common in people with dementia. This chapter outlines the current evidence pertaining to pain in people with dementia and sets out recommendations for both assessment and treatment of pain in this patient group.

scholarly journals RAISING OUR VOICES: THE BENEFITS OF AN INTERGENERATIONAL CHOIR FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CARE PARTNERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S751-S752
Author(s):  
Debra J Sheets ◽  
Theresa A Allison
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
People With Dementia

Abstract This interdisciplinary symposium focuses on the Voices in Motion (ViM) choir, a novel social intervention to address issues of stigma and social isolation among older adults with dementia and their caregivers. ViM is an intergenerational choir for community-dwelling older adults with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers. Local high school students participated in the choir and added to the lively social interactions. Two professionally directed ViM choirs were fully implemented in 2018-2019 with a public performance in the Fall and Spring seasons. This symposium brings together multiple methodologies to investigate the effects of choir participation on cognition, social connections, stigma, and quality of life for the dyads. Results in the individual papers demonstrate the positive impact of choir participation on dyads (n=26) for measures that includecognition (MacDonald), well-being and quality of life (Sheets), and social connections (Smith). Taken as a whole, the papers indicate that this social intervention offers an effective non- pharmacological alternative approach for older adults with dementia. Choir participation has important and significant impacts on psycho-social well-being and quality of life. The body of evidence presented points to the importance of intergenerational programs that are dementia-friendly and that support meaningful participation by older adults with dementia in the broader community. Discussion focuses on implications for social policy with attention on the replication and sustainability of the program.

scholarly journals Improving the care of people with dementia in general hospitals: evaluation of a whole-system train-the-trainer model

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Sampson ◽  
Victoria Vickerstaff ◽  
Stephanie Lietz ◽  
Martin Orrell
Keyword(s):  
Dementia Care ◽  
T Test ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Train The Trainer ◽  
Sense Of Competence ◽  
Information Leaflets ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Paired T Test

ABSTRACTBackground:There are concerns about the quality of care that people with dementia receive in the general hospital. Staff report a lack of confidence and inadequate training in dementia care.Methods:A train-the-trainer model was implemented across eight acute hospital trusts in London via a large academic health and science network. Impact was evaluated using mixed methods. Data were collected at (a) individual level: “Sense of Competence in Dementia Care” (SCID), (b) ward level: Person Interaction and Environment (PIE) observations, (c) organization level: use of specific tools, i.e. “This Is Me,” (d) systems level: numbers and types of staff trained per trust. Results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and paired t-test with thematic framework analysis for PIE observations.Results:The number of staff trained per trust ranged from 67 to 650 (total 2,020). A total of 1,688 (85%) baseline questionnaires and 456 (27%) three month follow-up questionnaires were completed. Mean SCID score was 43.2 at baseline and 50.7 at follow-up (paired t-test, p < 0.001). All sub-scales showed a small increase in competence, the largest being for “building relationships.” Organizational level data suggested increased use of carer's passport, “This Is Me” documentation, dementia information leaflets, delirium screening scales, and pathways. PIE observations demonstrated improved staff–patient interactions but little change in hospital environments.Conclusions:There was a significant improvement in staffs’ sense of competence in dementia care and the quality of interactions with patients. More hospitals adopted person-centered tools and pathways. Work is required to investigate if these changes improve hospital outcomes for people with dementia.

scholarly journals 414 - Supporting staff delivering person-centered care to people with dementia in Dutch nursing homes

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 37-38
Author(s):  
Henriëtte van der Roest ◽  
Milan van der Kuil ◽  
Anouk Overbeek ◽  
Egbert Hartstra
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Person Centered Care ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Organizational Features

BackgroundPositive evidence has been found for person-centered care provisioning (PCC), the level of person- centeredness of care is positively associated with residents’ quality of life, quality of care an wellbeing.When providing PCC, care and support are provided in line with the needs, preferences and capacities of people with dementia. PCC is seen as the golden standard for dementia care. However, in nursing homes, needs and preferences of people with dementia are not always obvious, due to the relatively high levels of cognitive impairment. This, and amongst others time constraints might hinder high PCC by care professionals. Limited evidence show that certain organizational and environmental conditions, such as satisfactory leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuing education, lead to higher PCC. In order to facilitate care professionals as much as possible in providing PCC, more insight is desirable.ObjectiveThis study aims to provide more insight into the modifiable factors that contribute to PCC for people with dementia in Dutch nursing homes.MethodsA cross-sectional design was applied. Data were collected during the fifth assessment of the Living Arrangements for people with Dementia (LAD)-study from April 2019 until February 2020. Care professionals working in psychogeriatric units in nursing homes filled in an online survey. Organizational characteristics of participating nursing homes were inventoried.The level of PCC was assessed with the Dutch version of the ‘Person-centred care questionnaire’ (PCCq). Modifiable factors potentially impacting the level of provided PCC with regard to staff characteristics (e.g. autonomy, education), organizational features (e.g. size, involvement of family in care), and culture (e.g. learning climate) were included in multiple linear modelling.Preliminary resultsIn total 58 nursing home facilities were included in the study, and 814 care professionals completed the survey. Average PCCq score was 3.2 (SD = 0.4; range 0 to 4, higher scores indicating higher PCC).ConclusionFactors related to staff, and organizational features and culture, that contribute to PPC will be presented. The outcomes of the study will provide input for the optimal organization of dementia care, in order to support care professionals working in nursing homes to provide PCC.

scholarly journals DISCREPANCIES IN BELIEF, BEHAVIOR AND KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS TOBACCO CONSUMPTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-61
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
National Level ◽  
Tobacco Consumption ◽  
Health Hazards ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Life Study ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Government

Aim and objective: Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of death, associated with significant health hazards and comprising millions of lives worldwide. India is the third-largest consumer of tobacco in the world; in-spite of adequate control measures taken by the government to cease tobacco consumption. The objective of this review is to highlight the discrepancies in belief, behavior, and knowledge towards tobacco consumption in India. The study also aims to specify factors influencing trends of tobacco consumption and to associate the extent of their influence based on the user’s perception concerning the quality of life. Study design: Review of the literature. Methods: Authors undertook a literature search in the electronic databases EMBASE, Medline, and Scopus with regard to associated disease burden and factors influencing tobacco consumption. Results: According to the review, sociodemographic, economic, personal, environmental, and healthy life indicators are the most influential variables affecting tobacco consumption. This highlights the need for revisiting the tobacco control laws in India, addressing the existing barriers to have significant impacts on the tobacco picture of the country. Although at state-levels, a certain extent of success has been achieved; in-tranquil, national-level non-prioritization of tobaccocontrol still exists. The possible reason might be a lack of awareness about health hazards owing to tobacco use. Conclusion: This dictates to improve health outcomes among individuals by including effective interventions. In all, its mandate to map the current issue of harm reduction framework through research, education, awareness, and implementation of policies for improved quality of life and health.

Overseas students coordinating committees ‐ the origins of student support in Australia?1

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-114
Author(s):  
Anna Kent
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
International Education ◽  
State Government ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Community Organizations ◽  
Student Support ◽  
Overseas Students ◽  
Australian Community ◽  
The Government

Student support in contemporary educational settings is vastly different from what it was when international education became a visible presence on Australian campuses in the 1950s. At that time, community organizations, businesses and the government cooperated to provide support to students in Australia, with little support being offered formally through universities and colleges. These Co-ordinating Committees survived for decades, into the 1990s. It could be argued that these Co-ordinating Committees facilitated a community engagement in international education that has not continued as the number of students has multiplied. Using archival and other primary source documents, this article will look at the beginnings of the Australian Organisations’ Co-ordinating Committee for Overseas Students (AOCCOS), and other similar organizations. It will analyse how the Committees changed over the decades of their existence, and what role they played in influencing government policies.The article will also investigate when and why these Committees ended, and what, if anything, has taken their place. The huge expansion of the international education sector, with more than half a million students now studying in Australia as international students, has impacted the quantity and quality of engagement with the Australian community for many of these students.Finally, the article will look at efforts to engage the community in the support of, and engagement with, international students in Australia in a more contemporary setting. This includes support provided by institutions, community and sporting organizations and state government and municipal councils.

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