Specialist dementia units can improve quality of life: research
HammondCare researchers say SDCP units can facilitate successful transitions to mainstream residential care and reduce the reliance on psychotropic medications, but more data is needed to determine long-term outcomes.
For people with very severe behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia, commonly referred to as BPSD, Specialist Dementia Care Program care models can play a crucial role in addressing systemic challenges in dementia care, according to research from independent health and aged care provider HammondCare.
The research team – of Mustafa Atee, Srivalli Vilapakkam Nagarajan, Rebecca Lloyd, Stephen Macfarlane, Angela Raguz and Thomas Morris – have had their findings published recently in the Australasian Journal on Ageing.
The preliminary evidence suggests SDCP units may enhance resident outcomes and improve quality of life, but the research team acknowledged further data collection is necessary to “evaluate long-term outcomes, refine care models and inform evidence-based policy decisions.”
The team wrote that SDCPs can also have an impact on both practice and policy, with evidence suggesting they can facilitate successful transitions to mainstream residential care, reduce the reliance on psychotropic medications and reduce the hospital bed block from the lack of suitable care options for people experiencing very severe BPSD.
Portuguese-born Alfredo de Andrade is one success story of the SDCP model of care, returning to mainstream aged care after a one year stay at Quintral Cottage at HammondCare’s Cardiff facility in New South Wales.
A skilled boilermaker, Mr de Andrade received sponsorship from Allco Steel for his family to migrate from Portugal to Newcastle in 1981. The family of five settled in Metford while Mr de Andrade worked as a metal worker at the Tomago plant.
He fabricated steel for many projects, including the Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Chifley Tower and the Sydney monorail, but he was always limited in his English skills. This language barrier became more pronounced once Mr de Andrade was diagnosed with vascular dementia and began exhibiting symptoms of BPSD, sometimes leading to violent incidents.
In 2023, he was taken to Maitland Hospital where he ended up staying for eight months due to no aged care homes accepting him. During this period, he experienced fractures, falls, delirium, Covid, strokes and was unable to sleep.
Finally, he received a Dementia Support Australia suitability assessment and was taken to HammondCare’s Quintral cottage in December 2023.
His family had agreed with Quintral Cottage to reduce his antipsychotic medication as it had side effects including restlessness and falls. However, a need to address the unmanaged pain behind his behaviours remained.
Mr de Andrade sadly passed away on 1 June, but his son Paulo said the SDCP provided his dad with the help he needed at a vulnerable stage of life and that the family were appreciative he passed away with quality of life.
“The care he has been given there has certainly been special – it was a safe environment for him,” Paulo de Andrade said. “Once he got off those drugs he stabilised and his aggression disappeared,” he added. “In his final years of life, he is comfortable.”
There are presently 22 SDCP units around Australia and five more are expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is aiming for 35 SDCPs nationally for the program, which was first announced in June 2016 in response to calls from experts and aged care stakeholders.
Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on LinkedIn and Facebook, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.
