Presentation summary
People with dementia have a human right to high quality health care. In spite of evidence for the value of dementia rehabilitation in maintaining participation and quality of life , there is often inequitable access to rehabilitation, including to speech pathology . This study aimed to use co-design to identify and explore both barriers and solutions to improved access to rehabilitation for people with dementia. Co-designers included people living with dementia living in the community (5), care partners (8) (n=13), as well as clinicians, managers and dementia organisations (n=14). Co-design principles (purposeful, inclusive, timely, transparent and respectful) underpinned both the approach and the strategies of engagement across a series of three virtual workshops. Findings were analysed using The Levesque Access to Health care framework - to assist in understanding barriers and exploring solutions. This paper will outline the barriers and solutions identified by co-designers and actions undertaken as a result of their recommendations. Barriers and potential solutions were identified at a person level and a health service system level. Co-designers were challenged to include identification of solutions for immediate actions. Recommendations included a focus on education for people living with dementia and their care partners, allied health professionals and referrers such as GPs and aged care assessors. Outcomes have included the development of an interdisciplinary e-learning course for health professionals, an online course for people with dementia and the general community, community resources and GP training sessions. Access to rehabilitation for people with dementia is impacted by multiple barriers. A whole of community and multipronged approach – working in collaboration with people living with dementia, care partners, and health professionals - is needed to change current service access and ensure that the right to rehabilitation for people with dementia is upheld.
Refrences
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Kym Torresi is a speech pathologist with over 30 years clinical experience primarliy working with adults across settings. She is currently the Senior Advisor Aged Care at Speech Pathology Australia, and a Senior Research Consultant at the National Centre for Healthy Ageing at Monash University