Tackling stigma in dementia
Dementia is one of the major causes of disability in older people, yet often people with dementia can’t access rehabilitation. Assoc Prof Michele Callisaya, a National Centre for Healthy Ageing and Monash University researcher, is leading an MRFF-funded project addressing this important issue.
Associate Professor Callisaya said that there are several reasons preventing people with dementia accessing rehabilitation.
“Some health professionals lack knowledge about the benefit of rehabilitation interventions or there is stigma around the ability of people with dementia to engage in such therapies. In addition, people with dementia and their families often don’t know about the benefit of interventions and how to access them,” she said.
The aims of the study are to evaluate the effects of a 12-month package of interventions (e-module and a community of practice) on attitudes and knowledge about dementia rehabilitation. It also aims to evaluate acceptability and satisfaction with the interventions.
What is dementia?
Dementia is a group of diseases that affect your memory, thinking and behaviour. There is no cure, but early intervention can improve quality of life. Around 1 in 12 Australians aged 65 years and over are living with dementia according to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. While dementia is more common in older people, it is not a normal part of ageing, and can affect people in their 40s and 50s.
New resources
To improve knowledge about dementia rehabilitation, the project research team developed new resources, including a four-week introduction to dementia rehabilitation e-course and a new brochure on ‘Living with Dementia: How Allied Health and Dementia Rehabilitation can help’.
The four-week health professional e-course aims to raise awareness, change attitudes, and provide strong evidence for the need and provision of rehabilitation as part of post-diagnostic care for all people with dementia of any age, and their care partners.
The brochure gives people with dementia and their care partners an overview of the different allied health professionals and how they can support people with dementia maximise mobility, meaningful activities, and relationships. Download the brochure.
Contact Associate Professor Callisaya (Link michele.callisaya@monash.edu) or Dr Angel Lee for more information about the study.