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Information and Services

Information and services for health professionals and service providers

This section of the site provides information for health professionals about the resources, services and supports that can assist in managing the care needs of people living with dementia and their families.

Dementia Resource Guide

The Dementia Resource Guide aims to improve care and quality of life for people with dementia by recommending resources, tools, guidelines and best practice principles. A research team at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) developed the Guide and reviewed over 700 resources to determine the best available.

The target audience includes people with dementia, family members and carers and staff and volunteers in residential care, community care and hospital settings.

The Guide was developed in consultation with people with dementia, their carers and families, the peak bodies that represent them, service providers and dementia experts.

Diagnosing Dementia

Confirming a diagnosis of dementia can be challenging, particularly as dementia affects different people in different ways. Dementia can also be caused by over 70 conditions so it is important to identify, assess and diagnose appropriately.

There are a wide range of diagnostic tests and training programs that can assist you in diagnosing and treating those living with dementia and their families.

The Dementia Outcomes Measurement Suite identifies 36 instruments which are deemed suitable for use in diagnosing and screening for dementia, and taking care of a person with dementia. The General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) instrument has also been recently developed to assist screening for dementia in the primary care setting. This instrument is available as a web-based test and can be accessed at www.gpcog.com.au.

You can download a copy of the Dementia Outcomes Measurement Suite Final Report on the Ageing Research Online website (note that the Report is a large file and may take a while to download).

Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS)

A DBMAS has been established in each state and territory to provide appropriate clinical interventions to help aged care staff and carers improve their care of people with dementia where the behaviour of the person with dementia impacts on their care. The DBMAS program provides targeted services for people with dementia who are seeking or receiving care through Australian Government funded aged care services, as well as their carers and families. The program also supports other clinicians, staff of mental health services for older people and allied health services.

DBMAS core functions include:

• Provision of information and advice;
• Undertaking assessments and short-term case management including mentoring and modeling management techniques; and
• Delivery of tailored information and education workshops.

DBMAS offers 24 hour a day telephone support call 1800 699 799 (Free local call. Calls from mobile and pay phones may incur extra charges).

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Dementia Collaborative Research Centres

Three Dementia Collaborative Research Centres have been established to facilitate and undertake dementia research, assist in the translation of research into care and clinical practice, develop guidelines, tools and other resources, and disseminate and promote dementia research and research outcomes.

The three Dementia Collaborative Research Centres and their primary research focus are:

• The University of New South Wales – Assessment and Better Care Outcomes;
• The Australian National University – Early Detection and Prevention, Risk Reduction and Early Detection; and
• The Queensland University of Technology – Consumers and Carers.

Dementia Training Study Centres (DTSCs)

The aim of the Dementia Training Study Centres (DTSCs) is to improve the quality of care and support provided to people living with dementia and their families through the development and upskilling of the dementia care workforce and the transfer of knowledge into practice.

The five DTSCs include the:

• NSW/ACT DTSC – University of Wollongong
• QLD DTSC – Queensland University of Technology
• VIC & TAS DTSC – La Trobe University
• SA & NT DTSC – Alzheimer’s Australia SA Inc
• WA DTSC – Curtin University of Technology

The primary target group of the Training Centres includes:

• Nurses;
• General practitioners;
• Medical specialists for example, Geriatricians;
• Psychologists and psychiatrists; and
• Allied health professionals including Social Workers, Diversional Therapists and Occupational Therapists.

DTSC activities include: curriculum development; training resource development; work placements; guest lectures and clinical workshops; and scholarships.

For a PDF version of the DTSC Strategic Plan (PDF 634 KB) click here.

For contact information for each of the five DTSCs (PDF 14 KB) click here.

For a list of all current DTSC project (PDF 45 KB) click here.

For a list of the DTSC National Priority Areas (PDF 9 KB) click here.

For more information about the DTSCs please visit your nearest DTSC’s website:

• NSW and ACT DTSC
• South Australian and Northern Territory DTSC
• Victoria and Tasmanian DTSC
• Western Australian DTSC

The Dementia Research Grants Program

The Dementia Research Grants Program aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers through the establishment of multidisciplinary, multi-sectoral research that will inform and address factors that impact on the health and wellbeing of people with dementia.

Since 2006, the Dementia Community Support Grants Program has provided approximately $7.8 million in funding for over 190 community projects.

Additional funding of $4.9 million has been provided for eight new Dementia Research Grants projects which are managed by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

PDF printable version of the Dementia Research Grants – Round Three Projects (PDF 17 KB)

For more information go to www.nhmrc.gov.au

Dementia Community Support Grants - Round Four

On 9 December 2010, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP announced the Dementia Community Support Grants – Round Four.

The Program provides funding for local community projects to improve dementia literacy, encourage innovation in the dementia care sector, bridge social gaps and encourage the social participation of people with dementia, their families and carers across Australia. The first three grant rounds have provided funds for over 150 projects at a cost of $6.3 million.

These Grants are for up to 12 months in duration with funding of up to $50,000 per Grant.

Applications for Round Four of the Grants opened on 9 December 2010. Applications close at 2pm Thursday 10 February 2011. However, the Department encourages organisations affected by the recent floods and environmental events to request an extension from the current deadline to 2pm Thursday 3 March 2011. For information on how to apply for an extension view Addendum 3. For more information on the Grants program including eligibility criteria and how to apply view Tenders and Grants.

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Resources for Special Needs Groups

A variety of resources are available to assist you in supporting people with dementia and their families from special needs groups including:

1. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – CALD focus
(Alzheimer’s Australia Inc.) Living with Dementia: A Vietnamese Family Story
This project involved the development and piloting of training resources, in consultation with stakeholders, to support improved dementia awareness and care for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The resources include a CD ROM containing the basic building block of the three areas of knowledge (dementia, communication and cross-cultural competence) taken from the Community Services Training Package, a hard copy version of the CD ROM, a workbook and optional assessment materials

2. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – rural and remote access (Alzheimer’s Australia WA Inc.) Local Knowledge: A dementia care e-learning resource for rural and remote aged care workers
This project involved the development and piloting of an e-learning training resource, in consultation with stakeholders, to support improved dementia awareness and care for people from rural and remote areas. This web/CD ROM based product allows rural and remote care workers and volunteers to undertake self-paced, on demand dementia care training.

3. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – a focus on younger people (Alzheimer’s Australia ACT Inc.) 2 Young 4 Dementia - Meeting the Needs of People with Younger Onset Dementia
This project involved the development and piloting of training resources to support improved dementia awareness and care for younger people with dementia, their carers and families. The training products include a DVD ROM, supporting manuals, worksheets and other guides that can be utilized in relevant work and care environments. Focus group input and case studies provide the basis of a DVD about young people who live with dementia.

4. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – rural/remote, people living alone focus (Baptist Community Services ACT/NSW) Staying at home with dementia - how the environment, technology and you can help
This project involved the development and piloting of training resources to assist care workers, volunteers, service providers and family carers of people with dementia who live alone at home. The resources include help sheets, posters, a brochure, DVD and web-based virtual tour of the Baptist Community Services Age Friendly Home. They provide information about options such as assistive technologies and equipment and environment adaptation and will allow people with dementia and people in rural and remote community’s easy access to educational information and on-line resources. The assistive technology house is located in Marsfield in Sydney; the house is complete and receiving visitors.

5. Dementia Training Resource for People with Special Needs – CALD focus
(Workplace Initiatives Learning Inc.) Strangers in a Strange Land
This project involved the development of a CD ROM of interactive learning materials, with accompanying resource sheets, for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and will be designed with a particular understanding of the needs of older carers in mind.

To order any of the Special Needs Products please contact National Mailing and Marketing on (02) 6269 1000

Dementia education and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

The Dementia Learning Resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is a culturally specific training resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities which aims to equip Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community workers with the appropriate skills and information to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with dementia and their carers.

PDF printable version of the Facilitator's Guide (PDF 1748 KB)

Delirium in older people – this booklet is about Delirium, a term used to describe changes to thinking and behaviour that occur over a very short time

To order the Facilitator's Guide or the Delirium in older people booklet, both publications are part of the Dementia Learning Resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities please contact National Mailing and Marketing on (02) 6269 1000 or email dementia@health.gov.au

The Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia Program

The Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD) program provides packages of high level care and support to older Australians who experience behaviours of concern and psychological symptoms associated with dementia to assist them to remain living in their own homes.

More information about the EACHD program and other community care options can be found under Home Based Care on the department’s website.
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For more information and assistance

Ring…

National Dementia Helpline – 1800 100 500*
For Aged Care Information - 1800 200 422
Centrelink - 13 27 17
*Free local call. Calls from mobile and pay phones may incur extra charges.

Visit…

Aged Care Australia
Centrelink