Australia

Champions in hospital dementia care workshop (Australia)

What is being done?
This train-the-trainer workshop provides participants with a resource kit and skills to support hospital staff to improve dementia care.

Participants attend a two day workshop and are required to implement changes in the workplace, using material from the resource kit or other recognised resources.

At the completion of the workshop, each participant receives a dementia toolbox containing:

  • Information on topics relating to dementia in acute care (including DVDs, references etc);
  • Resources, fact sheets and example documentation for use in the workplace
  • Tips to assist dementia champions to mentor or become a resource person in the workplace
  • Example documents and additional references
  • The Workbook also includes an audit tool

New role and function
The dementia champions project aims to

  • Encourage sustainability of dementia care skills in hospitals in Western Australia
  • Promote transfer of information between health professionals and care staff
  • Promote hospital ownership of best practice dementia care

The project started with engagement with reference panel from metropolitan and regional hospitals, the reference panel assisted with, Identification of topics for a resource kit, recruiting participants for pilot workshops, promoting the project in hospitals and developing ownership of dementia care education in hospitals.

The strategy was to facilitate a process for developing Dementia Champions in the acute care sector by:

  • Adopting a train-the-trainer approach
  • Providing on-going support in the workplace

The course is delivered over two days, and work based activity which would include and audit, and two other activities (presentation, mentoring, introduction of a new resource).

In order to take part participants need some previous experience of dementia care, to be able to provide evidence of previous dementia learning and a letter of support from their line manager.

What has been achieved?
In 2008 two cohorts with a total of 15 people were evaluated, the particpants reported:

  • Great networking opportunities
  • The resource kit will help facilitate and promote effective and efficient delivery of care

In relation to the work-based activities

  • Activity was successful – 100% Agreed
  • Activity was well received – 100% Agreed
  • Most felt they could make improvements, including:
    • more preparation time
    • providing more evidence-based research
    • using more examples from the work-place

Benefits of being a Dementia Champion:

  • Feeling empowered to improve attitudes and care
  • Networking opportunities with like-minded colleagues
  • Seeing staff put education into practice

Examples of changes in dementia care practice

  • “Increased awareness and management of delirium”
  • “Staff are using activity boxes and activities rather than relying on surveillance personnel”
  • “There has been a reduction in incidents of aggression”

Local contact for further information
http://www.alzheimers.org.au/western-australia/champions-in-hospital-dementia-care-workshop.aspx