Information, Education and Training

Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia with 1.2 million Australians involved in their care. The cost of dementia on the health and aged care systems is calculated to be at least $4.9 billion per annum.

National clinical guidelines for care of people with dementia provide health professionals and carers in primary care, aged care and hospital settings with access to recommendations reflecting current evidence on best practice dementia care.

Clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia: Recommendations

Contain 109 recommendations that health and aged care staff can apply in their workplaces while also responding to the needs and preferences of the person with dementia and their carer(s) and family.

This workbook was developed as a tool to support the implementation of the Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia which were developed by the NHMRC Partnership Centre for Dealing with Cognitive and Related Functional Decline in Older People and released in March 2016. However, it can be adapted for most clinical practice guidelines. The aim of this workbook is to assist health and aged care staff (doctors, nurses, allied health, managers) to systematically implement guideline recommendations in their workplaces. The workbook guides health and aged care staff through the steps of research translation that are generally accepted to be effective.

A consumer companion guide entitled Diagnosis, treatment and care for people with dementia: A consumer companion guide has been developed for members of the public to complement the Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia.

Working closely with consumers ensured this resource uses accessible language to provide practical guidance about important aspects of the clinical practice guidelines for consumers living with dementia and will allow consumers to be fully informed when being investigated or treated for possible or diagnosed dementia.