Building bridges: Developing an inter-sectoral community of practice for people with dementia

<p>This paper examines progress to date of a Community of Practice (CoP) as a strategy to enhance a palliative approach and care continuity for people who have dementia. While a palliative approach is appropriate on a needs basis throughout the trajectory of a life limiting illness, this study focuses on such an approach for persons with dementia and for whom death within the next 6 months would not be surprising. Additionally, care continuity is recognised as a fundamental aspect of best practice, facilitated by common understandings of best practice, the care needs of clients and their families, and policies/protocols that support such understandings. Acting as a catalyst for change, a collaborative and inter-sectoral CoP may be ideally placed to identify shared goals and how these might be met.</p> <p>This study, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, employs an Action Research approach and collaboration across two States – Tasmania and WA. Ten CoP members were recruited in each State from staff in 4 participating community and residential aged care facilities, 2 acute care settings, 2 in-home respite care providers, 2 local GP divisions, and 2 GP practices. The two CoPs met regularly in 2010, drawing on the baseline evaluation from surveys/interviews with family carers/staff, interviews with key informants, inter-sectoral CoP discussions, and audits. The intent was to provide a critical framework for the planning and implementing of best practice action, taken with a view to improving care/care continuity for people with dementia who were dying.</p> <p>This paper presents the conceptual framework of a CoP and key findings from the baseline evaluation, which will demonstrate the current status of practice in this area and relevant family carers’ experiences. The paper concludes with a discussion of strategies developed by the COP to address how current practice could be enhanced.</p>