Dementia policy and influences in practice

Program Overview

This continuing professional development course examines the theories, concepts, and policies behind dementia care, equipping practitioners with the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality, person-centered support. It focuses on the legal and ethical aspects of care, integrated care models, and the voices of people with dementia and their families in policymaking. The course also addresses the alignment of policy innovations with dementia workforce education to improve care.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This credit-bearing continuing professional development course aims to examine the underlying principles theories, concepts, policies, and practices that underpin the organisation and delivery of dementia care. Dementia is a national and global priority due to its substantial personal, relational, and societal impact. People living with dementia have complex health and social care needs and require increasing levels of support and care as dementia progresses. Successful implementation of person-centred care and relationship-centred care requires practitioners to be equipped with knowledge and skills and be empowered to deliver high-quality care often within impoverished care environments. In addition, progressive efforts to innovate, promote quality and integrate care are impacted on by the reality of resource constraints. National and global strategies aim to improve the lives of people with dementia, their families and the people who care for them while decreasing the impact of dementia on communities and countries. The module will provide a supportive and academically challenging environment within which students will develop a critical understanding of how policies have helped shape the delivery of services. We will also examine how policy is informed and draws upon evidence-based practice and the findings from research activities.

Objectives:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Critically examine and identify the principal theories, concepts and policies that underpin the implementation of contemporary dementia practice.
• Critically argue the legal and ethical issues that impact on the delivery of dementia care, with consideration given to partnership working, mental capacity assessment, supported decision-making, professional responsibility and risk enablement.
• Critically appraise the relevant policies and evidence base that inform the delivery of integrated care models and interdisciplinary working practice.
• Explore and distinguish the voice of people with dementia and their family carers within policy-making in health and social care.
• Critically review and reflect on how policy innovations align with the education of the dementia workforce to inform and advance improvements in dementia care.

Other:

This course be taken as a standalone module or the credits can be used towards the following courses: MSc Dementia Studies: Contemporary Approaches to Practice PgCert Dementia Studies: Contemporary Approaches to Practice PgDip Dementia Studies: Contemporary Approaches to Practice