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WONCA to highlight best-practice dementia care
Presentations covering home palliative care, medication guidelines and worker attitudes will be on offer at next month’s conference in Sydney.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia, impacting more than 400,000 people.
It is a disease that impacts more than 400,000 Australians and two thirds of all aged care residents, but there is still a lot to learn when it comes to dementia.
This week marks Dementia Action Week, and in 2023 the campaign is encouraging Australians to ‘act now for a dementia-friendly future’.
With diagnoses expected to soar over the next five decades, Dr Anthony Marinucci, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Aged Care, says more needs to be done to boost awareness of the disease.
‘A nationwide strategy must be a priority,’ he said.
‘This includes addressing stigma and discrimination, and recognising the increased physical and psychological needs of people living with dementia and how this requires a multidisciplinary team care approach.
‘It’s vital that we do everything possible to ensure people with dementia get the care and support they need, and WONCA is a great opportunity to enhance awareness and spread the word.’
At this year’s WONCA world conference, taking place in Sydney from 26–29 October, a series of informative presentations on dementia will be on offer for those wanting to learn more.
Topics include:
- home palliative care for patients with advanced dementia
- knowledge and attitudes among healthcare workers
- new Australian guidelines for the appropriate use of psychotropic medications in people living with dementia and in residential aged care
- predicting mid and late-life dementia risk in primary care settings.
RACGP spokesperson Professor Dimity Pond said WONCA is an opportunity for GPs to listen to experts and share their own ideas on dementia.
‘Together, we can learn from each other, impart our own wisdom and experiences, and figure out how to ensure no patients with dementia fall through the cracks of our health system,’ she said.
‘GPs across Australia do a wonderful job helping patients with dementia and the people in their life supporting them, and something I think we all need to be mindful of is that dementia affects every single part of how a patient manages their health, including chronic diseases.
‘We need to make it as easy as possible for them and their families, carers and loved ones, and that means taking steps like suggesting Webster packs for medications, calling on the day to remind about appointments, or setting up reminder systems with allied health practitioners to ensure continuity of care.’
More information on dementia treatment can be found in the
RACGP’s Silver Book.
Hosted by the RACGP, WONCA 2023 will focus on ‘
Recovery, reconnection, and revival. A celebration of primary care’ and will include more than 800 presentations and workshops from 700 local and international guests.
Registration for both WONCA and the pre-conference workshops is now open.
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