REMH8025 Recognising and Responding to Dementia in Indigenous Communities

This topic is designed specifically for health practitioners who are working with Indigenous people who may have dementia and their carers in remote communities locally, nationally and internationally. Students are challenged to translate current evidence into practice, developing skills and knowledge in Indigenous dementia care and management, including the validated Kimberly Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA) tool. Students will also identify their on-going learning and professional development needs in relation to dementia care and identify resources and professional networks available to them.

This topic aims for students to develop skills in working with people with dementia and their carers who are living in rural and remote Indigenous communities. Students will learn how to apply the latest evidence about dementia to their current workplace. This will include learning to assess for dementia in this population. There is an emphasis on communicating and developing practical strategies to assist carers, both paid and unpaid, to ensure people with dementia are able to continue to live in their communities for as long as possible.

1. Describe the different types of dementia including the causes, signs, symptoms and progress of the disease and be able to communicate this effectively to families
2. Apply frameworks of practice including: person centred; the international classification of function, disability and health (ICF); Primary Health Care; and cultural safety
3. Be able to distinguish dementia from other conditions that may have similar signs and symptoms
4. Use appropriate tools (including the KICA - Kimberly Indigenous Cognitive Assessment) and procedures to assess remote Indigenous clients
5. Describe the progressive changes associated with dementia in a person in terms of their sense of self, cognitive abilities, emotional states, behaviour and ability to look after themselves and others
6. Describe different ways of managing the person with dementia including behaviour management environmental modifications, medications and other appropriate interventions
7. Develop strategies with family and other carers to enable them to manage any difficulties with family members in their community for as long as possible
8. Develop a plan for the long term management of the person with dementia in their community using knowledge of the cultural context and local support services
9. Source and utilise contemporary resources in the management of Indigenous people with dementia