1. Driving Miss Daisy conference 2017
Educator – Emma Fromings

2. Content Dementia Overview Wellington DMD Dementia Education experience
Dementia Friendly Recognition programme
Where to from here…..

3. Dementia stat's
Yes, dementia prevalence is on the increase, but incidence is decreasing. 75% of people aged over 80 do not have dementia. It is not hereditary and it is possible to lower your risk of developing dementia and/or increase you ability to live well with it by following some well researched guidelines – more on that later

5. Usual pathway to diagnosis
History from family or someone who knows person well
* This is the most important aspect of the diagnostic process
Tests done include:
Cognitive Test
Blood test
Infection screening
CT or MRI scan
* A referral may be made to a Specialist e.g Geriatrician, Neurologist, Psycho geriatrician, Psychologist

6. Dementia is an umbrella term
for a range of conditions that share similar symptoms

7. Symptoms are due to physical changes in the structure of the brain that affect brain function

8. Changes that can affect…
Memory
Thinking
Personality/behaviour
Emotion

9. Main conditions that cause dementia
Alzheimers Disease - 50% to 60 % The chemistry and structure of the brain changes, plaques and tangles develop disrupting messages around the brain and resulting in death of brain cells.
Vascular Dementia - 10%to 20% A result of inadequate blood supply to the brain, can be chronic or acute.

10. Dementia is neurodegenerative
All of the conditions that cause dementia worsen over time and are terminal.
The progression is usually slow, typically over a period of five to ten years from onset of symptoms

11. Stages of dementia Early – Relatively independent
Middle – Increasingly needing help
Late – Fully dependent on others

12. Brain function

14. Denial?

15. (unawareness of difficulties)or
Anasognosia
(unawareness of difficulties)

16. Living well with dementia
Sadly there is no cure, but much can be done to support a person with dementia to live well

19. What Wellington has done
2 Dementia Education sessions
Session one – Understanding and respecting customers with dementia
Session two – Responding to challenges of working with people with dementia

20. Concerns raised
Unaware customer has CI or Dementia prior DMD driver concerned about persons ongoing safety/wellbeing on leaving them
DMD continuing to provide service for PWD even when dementia has progressed beyond what a driver can safely manage
Unrealistic expectation of DMD service by person who booked service or customer
DMD franchise owners not knowing what supports are out there for PWD and families

21. Recommendations Develop a dementia response that incorporates
- Staff training
- Clarity on service for PWD
- Standard practice guidelines
- Screening questions to include cognitive impairment/dementia
- Response if concerned about changes in clients cognition
- Response if concerned about clients safety/wellbeing

22. Alzheimers New Zealand Dementia Friendly Recognition Programme
A way for organisations and businesses in NZ to become accredited as dementia-friendly.
Two Awards
Working towards Dementia-Friendly award
Dementia-Friendly award

23. Seven standards to meet
Person centred
Leadership
Workforce
Physical environment
Workplace
Collateral and websites
Review

24. Dementia Friends
An opportunity for individuals to demonstrate their understanding and support of people living with dementia

25. Where to from here? Work together to develop dementia competence
Connect with your local Alzheimers/Dementia organisation
Consider taking steps to become accredited as Dementia Friendly
Look out for when Dementia Friends programme launches