With the Federal Government this morning making the long-awaited announcement that mobile response teams will replace the axed dementia supplement, attention will now shift to how the new model will operate.
The idea of multidisciplinary response teams that would provide specialised support to residential facilities struggling to care for residents with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) was one option that received “broad support” from the almost 70 industry and expert stakeholders who attended the Minister’s Dementia Forum on 11 September.
The official report from the meeting that took place in Melbourne late last year showed there was “broad consensus” among participants of the need to improve access to specialised support services.
It was thought that the response teams, or what participants called “flying squads”, would be cost effective and would provide earlier intervention, according to KPMG’s report on the meeting.
However, while a pilot to trial the mobile teams was put forward as one possible replacement to the axed dementia supplement, the participants raised several concerns about the proposed model. For example, how many teams would be required to service the whole country. Further, the participants noted that it may be difficult for the mobile team model to sustain long-term change and service improvements in residential care.
Discussing the feasibility of the response teams, the participants felt that “further work” was required to develop the model and clarify how the teams would differ from, complement, or build on existing Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services (DBMAS), particularly in states where DBMAS was less established. “This is an option for the medium term,” the forum’s participants concluded.
The KPMG report said the specialised support teams could be led by a geriatrician, GP or nurse practitioner and involve specialised assessment and multidisciplinary input. Such models were considered to be highly effective where they were available, the report noted.
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I am concerned about this strategy for managing BPSD. ‘Flying squads’ the name brings chills to my spine. There is no mention of family or friends in this strategy, who often provide the understanding of why there are behaviours, ‘knowing’ the person with dementia aids in discovery and soothing solutions.