VMCH trials unique dementia practice guide

An Australian-first dementia practice guide for case managers and care coordinators is under development to provide more knowledge and expertise for professionals supporting people living with dementia, and their carers, in their homes. 

For-purpose aged and disability service provider VMCH has partnered with Caladenia Dementia Care and My Dementia Companion to produce Your Guide to Implementing Person-Driven Care. 

It will provide workers with information to help refer clients to appropriate and individualised support as their needs change. 

If the trial is successful, the guide could also be used within allied health, residential aged care and disability settings (where the client/resident has a diagnosis of younger onset dementia) and by families and carers, as well as care workers. 

“We know that 70% of people diagnosed with dementia live in the community and receive regular community care,” VMCH Dementia Services Specialist Elizabeth Baxter said.

“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 added that 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,” she said. 

“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.” 

The guide was officially launched at the International Dementia Conference in Sydney last week after nine months of behind-the-scenes work.

VMCH Executive General Manager of Quality and Clinical Excellence, Funda Ozenc, said this is an essential document that fills the necessary gap of consolidated practice guidelines.

“These [guidelines would provide various stakeholders with streamlined access to individualised resources and, consequently, enhance the quality of and access to care and services,” she said.

Ms Baxter hopes to put together a full research project into how and where the guide can be best utilised in practice and then evaluate its efficacy, with the support of the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). She also welcomed other industry leaders to share their interest ahead of the trial run.