informed about the diagnosis in an appropriate manner, there remains concern about how much information, and of what quality they are subsequently provided with. Thus, the National Audit Office report of 2007 found that roughly half of the community services they surveyed had no policies around discussing with people with dementia and their carers about the likely progression of the illness, or options for support and care. Equality of access to Post-diagnostic Support Some specific groups may be more disadvantaged in terms of support provided than others. Significant numbers of people are identified with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) through Memory Services. These people are usually seen as low priorities for support, and yet may remain for some years in a state of uncertainty as to whether this will progress to dementia, and whilst living with the consequences of changed memory and thinking abilities. People not in receipt of medication and with diagnoses may also be at risk of being discharged from memory services, or of being excluded from support aimed at people with Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. This may particularly impact on younger people, including those with a diagnosis of Frontal-temporal dementia, or people with a learning disability. Similarly, services for people from Black and Ethnic minorities may also be less likely to receive support that adequately meets their needs. When adequate support is provided, then this not only improves quality of life, but also enables them to make choices about their life, reduces stress for their families, and means that people are less likely to be admitted to care homes or in-patient wards (Spijker et al., 2008; Brodaty et al., 2003). Stepped Care Model for Post-diagnostic Support To deliver support that is both clinically and cost-effective, it is important that Memory Services can target these approaches according to the needs and preferences of the individual with dementia and their family. It is not only a question of what is offered by services, but also one of the pacing and timing of what is offered, and needs to take into account the importance of relationships and continuity in staff delivering this aspect of care. Adjustment is a process, not a set of boxes to be ticked at a pre-determined point. Services need to be able to work flexibly with families around the support they need. At the same time, memory services only have a finite amount of resources, and realistically will be able to provide only a limited range of
informed about the diagnosis in an appropriate manner, there remains concern about how much information, and of what quality they are subsequently provided with. Thus, the National Audit Office report of 2007 found that roughly half of the community services they surveyed had no policies around discussing with people with dementia and their carers about the likely progression of the illness, or options for support and care. Equality of access to Post-diagnostic Support Some specific groups may be more disadvantaged in terms of support provided than others. Significant numbers of people are identified with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) through Memory Services. These people are usually seen as low priorities for support, and yet may remain for some years in a state of uncertainty as to whether this will progress to dementia, and whilst living with the consequences of changed memory and thinking abilities. People not in receipt of medication and with diagnoses may also be at risk of being discharged from memory services, or of being excluded from support aimed at people with Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. This may particularly impact on younger people, including those with a diagnosis of Frontal-temporal dementia, or people with a learning disability. Similarly, services for people from Black and Ethnic minorities may also be less likely to receive support that adequately meets their needs. When adequate support is provided, then this not only improves quality of life, but also enables them to make choices about their life, reduces stress for their families, and means that people are less likely to be admitted to care homes or in-patient wards (Spijker et al., 2008; Brodaty et al., 2003). Stepped Care Model for Post-diagnostic Support To deliver support that is both clinically and cost-effective, it is important that Memory Services can target these approaches according to the needs and preferences of the individual with dementia and their family. It is not only a question of what is offered by services, but also one of the pacing and timing of what is offered, and needs to take into account the importance of relationships and continuity in staff delivering this aspect of care. Adjustment is a process, not a set of boxes to be ticked at a pre-determined point. Services need to be able to work flexibly with families around the support they need. At the same time, memory services only have a finite amount of resources, and realistically will be able to provide only a limited range of
BPS_FPOP_DAA_Psychosocial_Interventions_3.docx