Dementia care dialogues – project summary

Full project title: Opening a dialogue: Improving communication and practice in advance care and end of life care planning.

This project, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, aims to improve communication in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) between aged care staff and family caregivers about dementia and issues related to future care planning and palliative care.

The study is being conducted across two states, Tasmania and Victoria, with 2 Residential Aged Care Facilities involved from each State. Partner organisations include state-based palliative care services, aged care services, dementia services and other primary care providers including GPs.

The project will develop and trial a model that will provide a foundation for effective advanced care planning and end of life planning for people with dementia in RACFs. This model includes: (a) the development of Dementia-Palliative Care Resource Nurse (DPRN) roles in each participating RACF; (b) the development and piloting of a discussion tool and supporting strategies to facilitate staff-family caregiver dialogues about dementia being a terminal condition, issues of deterioration, mortality and a palliative approach to care; and (c) capacity building activities for aged care staff to facilitate communication about dementia and palliative approaches to care.

The project is being led by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre (WDREC), Menzies Institute, University of Tasmania. The Project Team comprises Professor Michael Ashby, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre (WDREC), Menzies Research Institute; Professor Andrew Robinson, Tasmanian School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre; Sharon Andrews, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre; Associate Professor Fran McInerney, Australian Catholic University; Dr Chris Stirling, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre; and Associate Professor Chris Toye, Curtin University of Technology.

For further information please contact Sharon Andrews, Project Co-Ordinator: Sharon.andrews@utas.edu.au