Identifying barriers and solutions to access to rehabilitation for people with dementia: A co-design approach

Tracks
7
Advocacy
Aged care
Dementia
Multidisciplinary practice
Saturday, June 14, 2025
10:30 AM - 10:40 AM
Knowledge Hub | Halls MNO, Ground Level

Overview

Kym Torresi


Details

⏫ Rapid impact
⏲️ 10.30am - 10.40am
⌛10-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)


Presenter

Agenda Item Image
Ms Kym Torresi
Senior Advisor, Aged Care
Speech Pathology Australia | National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Monash University

Identifying barriers and solutions to access to rehabilitation for people with dementia: A co-design approach

10:30 AM - 10:40 AM

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

.Volkmer, A., Cartwright, J., Ruggero, L., Beales, A., Gallée, J., Grasso, S., Henry, M., Jokel, R., Kindell, J., Khayum, R., Pozzebon, M., Rochon, E., Taylor-Rubin, C., Townsend, R., Walker, F., Beeke, S., & Hersh, D. (2023).Principles and philosophies for speech and language therapists working with people with primary progressive aphasia: An international expert consensus.Disability and Rehabilitation, 45(6), 1063–1078.https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2051080 2. Volkmer, A., Spector, A., Meitanis, V., Warren, J. D., & Beeke, S. (2019). Effects of functional communication interventions for people with primary progressive aphasia and their caregivers: a systematic review. Aging & Mental Health, 24(9), 1381–1393. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1617246 3. Volkmer, A., Spector, A., Warren, J. D., & Beeke, S. (2018). Speech and language therapy for primary progressive aphasia: Referral patterns and barriers to service provision across the UK. Dementia (London), 19(5), 1349-1363. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301218797240 4. Ruggero, L., Croot, K., & Nickels, L. (2020).How evidence-based practice (E3BP) informs speech-language pathology for primary progressive aphasia.American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, 35.https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317520915365 5. Taylor, C., Kingma, R. M., Croot, K., & Nickels, L. (2009).Speech pathology services for primary progressive aphasia: Exploring an emerging area of practice.Aphasiology, 23(2), 161–174.https://doi.org/10.1080/02687030801943039

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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

The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.

Disclaimer: © (2024) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved.
Important Notice, please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited ("the Association"). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this presentation. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this presentation including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this presentation.

 

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