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Introduction
In the early stages of dementia many people live independently but, as dementia advances, living well requires increased levels of support and care. Dementia is a progressive condition, with an extended, intensive palliative care phase. At the advanced stage, people with dementia and their family need to be supported by a qualified and confident care workforce, who are both evidence informed and supported to continually develop their practice.
Workforce training with a commitment to good quality continuing care and services for people living with dementia are World Health Organisation priorities. However, the reality is that training and research with individuals who are in the advanced stage of dementia is limited. This highlights the importance, in the face of the rising incidence of dementia, for accessible education to support and manage care for people with advanced dementia. Palliare will embrace modern technology, communication and networking to support learning in a virtual environment.
Aim
To collaboratively create a range of practice based and experiential online learning resources to support carers of people in the advanced stage of dementia. This will be facilitated through a virtual international Community of Practice, a learning environment where people with common interest come together to share and learn from each other, to meet pre-determined needs
Specific objectives
To review the literature on advanced dementia / to compare and analyse current dementia policies / to analyse the gaps in education for the qualified dementia workforce / to conduct in-depth case studies on the experience of advanced dementia / to develop a virtual Community of Practice / to produce a European Advanced Dementia Care Best Practice Statement.
Project Lead
Professor Debbie Tolson
Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, University of the West of Scotland
Project Partners
The partners have been selected to include dementia experts from a range of disciplines with international repute, and educators with a track record of innovative experiential learning methods.
Scotland – The UWS team is led By Professor Debbie Tolson and includes Anna Waugh, Dr Rhoda MacRae, Dr Karen Watchman, Margaret Brown, Dr Barbara Sharp and Professor Graham Jackson
Slovenia – The Faculty of Healthcare Jesenice, Slovenia is led by Professor Brigita Skela Savic and includes Dr Simona Hvalic Touzery, Dr Katja Pesjak, Jozica Ramsak Pajk and Sasa Mlakar
Sweden – Linnaeus University, the Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Sweden is led by Professor Elizabeth Hanson and Dr Amanda Hellström.
Finland – Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland is led by Kimmo Polvivaara and the Finnish team includes Pirkko Routasalo, Anne Merta and Mia Vuopio
Portugal – Escola Superior De Enfermagem Do Porto, Portugal is led by Professor Dr Wilson de Abreu and includes Professor Dr Carlos Sequeira and Professor Dr Teresa Rodrigues.
Spain – Universidad De Alicante, Spain is led by Professor Dr Manuel Lillo Crespo and includes Professor Dr Maria Josefa Cabañero Martinez, Miriam Sanchez-SanSegundo, M. Cristina Sierras and Jorge Requelme.
Czech Republic – Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Czech Republic is led by Professor Iva Holmerova and includes Radka Veprkova, Jana Kasparkova and Klara Buriskova
