A model of service delivery in caring for people with Dementia

A model of service delivery in caring for people with Dementia Nursing essay Assignment help

A model of service delivery in caring for people with Dementia Nursing Essay Assignment

ABSTRACT
The increasing number of people with dementia in aged care facilities is reported to have a high burden of care among staff. The Nurse Practitioner role can be beneficial in the provision of dementia care particularly when difficult and aggressive behavior is being displayed. The model of service
described in this paper is designed in such a way to make the outreach team contribute to staff sustainability. Such a service is different to other outreach services and focuses on a number of key deliverables.

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In practice, the service ensures that recommendations made by the team at the initial assessment are implemented. In addition, they work with the staff in managing the resident’s behavior, train and model suggestions for practice in interventions. Evaluation of the service is a work in progress and will highlight important aspects about the workforce for the improvement of quality of
life for residents with dementia.

INTRODUCTION
This paper introduces a new and innovative model of service delivery for residential aged care facilities that has been referred to as the Dementia Outreach Service (DEMOS); led by the first Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializing in dementia care in Queensland, Australia. A brief background to the historical development of the NP role, both internationally and in Australia, and the benefits of this role will be provided before focusing more specifically on the role of NPs in aged care, particularly in relation to care of
older people suffering from dementia. Following on from this, a description of DEMOS as a contemporary model of dementia care and how it is conceptualized, planned and implemented by a NP is provided, together with vignettes of some intervention successes by way of illustrating how the service works. This model advances the role of the NP in the provision of care to residential aged care facility (RACF) residents with dementia.
The model aims to have significant impact on the workforce in RACFs, specifically for the provision of care to residents with dementia.

Research undertaken in Australia has indicated there is a high burden of care among staff in RACFs, with nursing staff consistently reporting heavy workloads (Tuckett, 2007a; Tuckett et al., 2009; Tuckett, Parker, Eley, & Hegney, 2009; Venturato, Kellett, & Windsor, 2007). For example, research conducted in Queensland indicated that influxes of older people into nursing
homes are causing increased workload pressures on staff, leading to concerns about stress, pay and emotional and physical demands among staff (Eley et al., 2007). The problems caused by a lack of available staff are intensified when considering the phenomenon of an ageing population, which is being experienced in many developed nations and has important consequences for the future care of older generations. In the Australian context, population ageing is leading to a rapid increase in the number and proportion of people
who have dementia (Access Economics, 2009, p. 231). Projected figures indicate that the number of people with dementia in Australia is set to rise from approximately 230,000 in 2008, to 465,000 in 2030 and to over 730,000 in 2050 (Access Economics, 2009, p. 231).

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This will lead to an increased care burden among residential aged care staff, with the hours of direct care required for residents with dementia set to rise
dramatically over the next 40 years, specifically in relation to the care provided by staff with lower qualifications (Access Economics, 2009). It has
been estimated there will be a shortage of 58,887 paid dementia care staff (full time equivalence [FTE]) by 2029 (Access Economics, 2009). The impacts of increased workloads for a workforce that is already under pressure could have serious implications.