If you’ve ever been touched by dementia, you’ll know what a cruel and heartbreaking disease it can be—for the person diagnosed and, often more so, for their loved ones.
It can also be an isolating experience. Individuals and their families reportedly feel ‘lost’ after receiving a diagnosis. As noted in the final report of the 2016 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, this is exacerbated by a lack of guidance for the community care workforce on where and how to find dementia support.
With this in mind, for-purpose aged-care and disability organisation VMCH is proud to have partnered with Caladenia Dementia Care and My Dementia Companion to begin the development of Australia’s first dementia practice guide for case managers and care coordinators, to help them support people living with dementia and their carers in their homes. Your Guide to Implementing Person-Driven Care will provide workers with information to help them refer clients to appropriate and individualised support as their needs change.
We know that 70 per cent of people diagnosed with dementia live in the community and receive regular community care.
If the trial is successful, the guide could also be used within allied health, residential aged care and disability settings (where the client or resident has a diagnosis of younger onset dementia), and by families and carers, as well as care workers.
‘We know that 70 per cent of people diagnosed with dementia live in the community and receive regular community care,’ says VMCH dementia services specialist Elizabeth Baxter.
‘Clinical guidelines are available to clinicians. However, there are no guidelines for staff working in the community sector for people post-diagnosis. There is also a workforce shortage in community care and less experience in providing dementia-specific support.’
VMCH CEO Sonya Smart says the guide reflects the organisation’s long-standing commitment to supporting those living with dementia and their loved ones.
‘Unfortunately, a “cure” for dementia is likely not something we may see within our lifetime, but what is within our control is how we can support those struggling with the disease now.
‘Here at VMCH, we are passionate about investing in innovations, such as this guide and our specialist dementia care units, among other initiatives, to help make life easier for people touched by dementia, and their families.
‘It’s also critical that we collaborate with like-minded professionals and organisations to share our respective expertise and to equip our dedicated workforce with the skills and tools they need to provide the highest quality care. As more and more people opt to receive care in their own homes as they age, this need becomes vital.’
Unfortunately, a ‘cure’ for dementia is likely not something we may see within our lifetime, but what is within our control is how we can support those struggling with the disease now.
VMCH executive general manager of quality and clinical excellence Funda Ozenc notes that while countless resources on dementia exist, there is a lack of consolidated practice guidelines.
‘These would provide various stakeholders with streamlined access to individualised resources and, consequently, enhance the quality of and access to care and services.’
The guide, which has been in the works for around nine months, will get a ‘soft launch’ at the International Dementia Conference in Sydney this week (5–6 September).
‘We are hoping after the conference to invite industry leaders to express interest and establish some timeframes as to when we can officially launch the guide,’ Elizabeth says. ‘We also plan to approach NARI [National Ageing Research Institute] to put together a full research project into how and where the guide can be best utilised in practice and then evaluate its efficacy.’
Banner image: A new dementia guide will support older people at home. (Photo courtesy of VMCH.)
